The Admiral is feeling much better along with the captain though we are still finding it necessary to minimize our time down below. Lunch today was some home made Mexican Aztec soup with turkey, avocado and tortillas. But any major meal preparation must be done in 3 to 4 stages. So tonight the menu included Orange Seschwan Chicken stir fry for dinner. Stage one was getting the chicken marinated and the sauce made. Then up on deck to stare at the horizon. Stage two was cutting up the vegetables. Then back on deck for some more horizon gazing. Stage three - lets make the rice. And Stage four - actually frying the ingredients and putting everything together. Now you are probably wondering why I would bother going through all of this trouble for dinner - why not open up a can of stew? I can hear the boys outside saying the same thing - they would not have the patience to cook like that under these conditions. Well - my only comment to that is - what would be the fun in that? Part of my challenge is trying to provide a gourmet dining experience for the guys - and the compliments and the groans and the smiles once they sit down to eat makes it all worth it.
David often tells the story about him and three guys sailing down to Mexico. The canned goods were in the bilge and all of the labels had come off. Dinner was called “Gorp” - four cans were opened up and emptied into the pot. They were never sure what they would end up with. Now according to David some of it actually tasted pretty good. I am sure the sodium content was out of this world and if David had his choice he would rather be eating my gourmet meals any day.
Noon Position: 16* 02’ N 107* 02’ W
Weather: 75% Cloud Cover
Average Speed: 6.2 knots
Distane Travelled in 24 Hours: 116 nm
Distance Travelled to Date: 332 nm
Barometric Pressure: 1012 and falling
Winds NW at 12 knots
A Note on Water: Our water maker stopped working just before we returned to Barra. After several attempts to fix it along with conversations with the manufacturer it was decided that the unit would have to be replaced. It was a mutual decision to not spend the $3000 to $6000 to replace it. We could always catch rain water.
So water has become a precious commodity on Confidence. Our tanks hold approximately 100 gallons of water in two tanks. We also have 3 five gallon jugs and several smaller bottles of mineral water and such. We have a set of regular taps in the galley and in the head that get their water via a water pump. We also have two foot pumps in the galley, one of which pumps salt water. We use this water to wash dishes and laundry and then use a small quantity of fresh water to rinse. FYI: Dawn dishwashing liquid is the best in the salt water. We have also been having salt water showers on deck.
** - again with a short fresh water rinse - often from the bucket suspended from the outboard. This is actual rain water.
But such limitations are still allowing us ample drinking water and we are easily consuming a couple of litres each a day and staying well hydrated.
1800: Position is 15* 50’N 107* 26.5’W
Winds have decreased to 5K WNW, The seas are 2-4 with the Barometric Pressure at 1011 and falling slowly
2000: Received emails from Winlink. Position reports were not updating with the computer. David figured it out later - there are two ports into the computer. One for the GPS has to be in a particular port for a particular program. Our Nav program needs it to be in one port and our communication needs it to be in another port. Of course this is not written anywhere. Good on the Captain to figure it out.
2120: Ran the engine for the first time. Solar panels are doing a fabulous job at keeping our batteries charged to over 13 amps. But the winds have dropped off so we furled in the Genoa and stay sail and tightened up the main.
2335: Engine off and our wind is back from the NW at 5-8 knots and we are maintaining a speed of 5-6 knot. A booby bird has taken up residence on our bowsprit looking for a free ride. David went right up to him and could actually such him. The bird did not budge - just looked up to him as if to see - would you leave me alone. I am trying to sleep.
And so ends another day and another sunset!
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