| At sea. Aviva Challenge: Dee Caffari set for 40 knot wind weekend |
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| Sunday, 15 January 2006 | |
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Dee Caffari: I had my last call into the London Boat Show today, it was great to hear a crowd all give me a cheer and to speak to a few familiar voices. It gave me a real boost especially as we are set for a 40+ knot weekend. I have tacked and the seas have increased in size and are chucking loads of water across the deck and sending Aviva and I airborne on a regular basis. The winds will increase as I close in on a cold front that we will cross during Sunday morning and then I will stay in accelerated airflow for a couple of days whilst a low pressure system passes to the south of us. It looks rather like a dartboard on my weather fax so I am glad we are a few hundred miles north of it, even though we can still feel its effects rather clearly. The temperature has dropped too, that is mainly due to the cold air from the Antarctic being whipped up in this depression and circulated. I have definitely gone for the reducing sails early option, as my hands are so cold it takes me a little longer to get the stuff done. After being becalmed for those first few days after Cape Horn I would now love to have a slow wind day just so I can tend to those maintenance issues on deck a little easier. Still I'll have to wait and see what a couple of days will bring. It feels strange being on a starboard tack again as I have been on port for a couple of days and now I have to get used to opening cupboards at a different angle. For some that makes life easier and for some that is definitely more difficult. We are now at the end of week eight. I have lived with Aviva for 56 days now. We have sailed 9500 miles together and still haven't fallen out. I think this is the start of a very loving relationship. The majority of the voyage is still to come but I feel as if we are approaching the half way stage quite quickly, or maybe that's wishful thinking. I was asked if I was enjoying the adventure. I chuckled. It is an event that has so many emotions involved that I think I can safely say I have covered the spectrum of feelings and emotions already so I am sure I will have seen every emotion twice over and some more so, by the end. Enjoyment will definitely be there along with, fear, and frustration. I am off to nurse Aviva through the windy weather this weekend, then once the weather allows me the chance I can tend to some minor maintenance to ensure we do not have any issues further down the line. The jobs list continues to grow. Dee & Aviva www.avivachallenge.com |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 15 January 2006 ) |
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