Captain's Log

March 20, 2003

Hello all,

It's my turn now. Cabin temp is a stifling 92 degrees, but feels hotter, thunderstorms dotted around with towering cumulus clouds and what wind there is comes from the North, right from Salvador. With 980 nm to go it will most probably be a long slow slog to windward.

Yesterday was a good test of the jury rig as I was on starboard tack for 20 hours and the winds ranged from 5 kts to 19 kts and all headwinds. Nerve racking to say the least as each bounce off a wave and crash in the trough had me looking up at the mast. I have come to a way of measuring the stiffness of the mast by looking at the non loaded D1. If it flexing too much, then I reduce sail or ease the sheets some. This is not the fastest way to get to Salvador, always being de powered; however, the alternative is not one I want to consider. Arriving with no mast.

My patience as with all the others will be surely tested in these final 1000 nm.

Alan
BTC Velocity