Yacht Aditi

Wish we had NOTHING to blog!

Wouldn’t that be great. So how many issues can arise over 180 miles? Yacht troubles come in 30’s not 3’s!! On this passage….. Making 11 knots SOG through the Straits the forward heads flooded the central bilge A fridge door flew open repeatedly as it needed immediate defrosting – so started the defrosting process including eating anything that defrosted – where and when did we buy these?? What are they??? Is that cheese supposed to be green???? The generator was shut down in case it had an airlock as it appeared to be running hot; we are on edge over exhaust elbows. The engine bilge alarm kept sounding although with our newly fitted pump there was little residual water but could we silence this alarm! Triple reefed, bashing to windward in 25 knots, the hydraulic headsail furling failed as we watched the full headsail unfurl from hanky to king size in 20 seconds. The manual back up furling system was a non-starter…..lifejackets ‘on’ called….mainsail reefed…..headsail dropped and lashed to the rail. Maybe it took minutes but it felt like a good half hour down the gym. Arrived Portimao with headsail covering the anchor winch. Best of all it was all caught on camera but of course it all looks easy in pictures…but a couple of miles off a lee shore (cliffs) and a mainsail to douse? What’s the reward for a crew fighting the elements? A couple of tiny ice cold Cruzcampo beers until a bottle of Havana Club purchased from the petrol station was found in the bilges. So we will now stay in Portimao at anchor while we sort out the furling system. 1 month till the ARC deadline at Las Palmas coupled with declining weather windows; yowser. Here’s hoping for an uneventful passage.

Thwacking along reefed down in the Portugese sunshine

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Further reefed as we approach the headland

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Changed tack

 

 

 

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Chaos as the headsail unfurls – Sophie takes the helm and sheets

 

 

 

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Head to wind

 

 

 

Mainsail furled away and headsail dropped & lashed

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At anchor in Portimao

 

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