SailBlog - Oh no...where's the wind gone again?

Graham

14/12/2008, North Atlantic

Last night, it was time to sit down with the calculator and do some serious navigation sums based around how much fuel we had left, our distance to go, and the time we needed to arrive by. The conclusion we rapidly came to was that we now had enough fuel for 200 Nm, with 470 Nm to go. No problem if the wind blows, but a cross check of the forecast that we download from the US did not bode well. Three more days of light winds, albeit from the right direction. So, we have now worked out our minimum mileage and speed we must maintain each day in order to arrive by the 18th December, and must balance use of the sails and the engine accordingly. Battery charging using the engine is now out completely, unless the engine is on anyway, but our solar panel is doing a fine job...when it isn't raining that is, or dark, of course (about 14 hours a day!). So, basically, we are at the mercy of the Gods at the moment as to whether we make it by the 18th, but we are certain we can. Besides which, we just cannot miss out on any more ARC parties in St Lucia under any circumstances, so we have an alternate plan for the engine fuel based on sunflower oil, olive oil, and oil. We read about it somewhere...we think! The temperature has been scorching the past 2 days and seems to be increasing by the day now. Another 30 Deg C today, and we are all melting. Still, beats freezing to death back in Blighty, eh?!!