25,26 May

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.930 / Virus Database: 2410.1.1/5022 - Release Date: 05/25/12 20:34:00

25 May 2012

Position 14:00 UTC -3  04 27.840N 049 42.383W

What bad night with lots of banging. Makes sleeping very difficult, so all a bit jaded today. Last night the wind came up above 20knots so had 3 reefs in just in case. By morning the wind had died again so took all reefs out – except the halyard is twisted so could not go to the top – settled for one reef and motor sailed all day. The dolphins gave us a fantastic display just as the sun was setting. One in particular did a spectacular jump – must have been at least 1.5m out of the water – and curved back into the water in a perfect dive.

Supper Stew and rice followed by pub fruit and custard.

26 May 2012

Position 14:00 UTC -3  06 07.831N 051 42.438W

We are where the Amazon empties into the Atlantic and joins the current flowing north. The water is black from the Amazon and there is no wind to speak of. The first rain squall to provide enough rain for a wash arrived about lunch time. What a relief to be able to feel clean and not sticky with sweat and salt. As I thought there might be some heavy winds associated with the squall we took the sails down – didn’t materialize - and haven’t put anything up as there is no wind. A second and long rain shower provided Joyce with enough water to wash her hair. We are well and truly into the ITCZ – let’s hope it won’t before too long.

Hoping to get to Chagaramas late Wednesday or early Thursday. Trust Power Boats and Gittian’s will be ready for us.

Supper sauté bully beef  with sauté potatoes jelly fruit and custard.

Cheers

Chris

PS Ian, Plan to bring the old drive on to Oz for your disposal. We plan to tie up at the fuel jetty and hope we will find Peake easily. The invertor is a Xantrex model 25. The fault occured after one plug shorted due to sea water ingress. By the way the same sea water took out the gas switches too. We checked the reset buttons - seem OK but have no effect. We suspect that the thyristors may be blown - but are not experts. If a quick fix is possible that would be great, but I don't want to hang arround waiting for spares. We can get a small car invertor for all we need. I hope Gittian won't keep us waiting!!