Saturday 3 December  2022

13^o 35.6 N  47^o 00.5 W

Today's Blog by David  (Time zone: UTC -2)

Where to start?  Our progress is no longer stately  - nor regal; Jenna has “Glacial” in mind – me:  “Geological”.

Trending stories – Venezuela?

One of the problems with being such a social media sensation (as such we are J) is that, once a thread starts and trends,  whatever its subject becomes an accepted fact -  however untrue it may be.   

Avid followers of our position reports have noticed that we have been making towards Venezuela – and indeed that was the best track we could do with the wind offered and the FACT now trending is: “Serendipity is heading for Venezuela!!” Then last night, we strategically positioned ourselves on the north of an approaching squall, hoping for a “slingshot” effect in the related wind. The wind had been light, and I’d hoped for some help, but having ridden the roller coaster over the north of the squall,  we found ourselves heading south,  at some speed,  for French Guyana  – not a good look,  to say the least!

So that led us to TURN THE ENGINE ON and motor WNW overnight towards  our destination – the first time we have motored in nearly two weeks at sea – (and I can’t tell you how unpleasant the crew found it – without being forewarned!!)

Having so agreed with Terry at our 02.00 watch change, I was on deck to deploy the kite at 07.00 this morning. His absence from parade underlined the time worn phrase: “Where’s Terry?”  We did get it up at perhaps 09.00 and here it is at its best:

I chose not to get another weather forecast this morning – after all things were progressing a forecast - what could have changed in the overall shape of weather in 24 hours? The wind was quite light, as forecast,  but we were struggling to make way NW (at 3 – 4 knots)  when this afternoon we encountered three large (50ft)  ARC boats heading SW. A brief radio call told me  I should have checked the weather forecast this morning.  Which was (and still is) : (we are yellow, top right ….)

Not the best picture  - but you get the drift.

Our trusty routing software then said, helpfully,  to the effect that we should:  “Turn the Donk on!”.

Now, “Donk” is a technical term – it harks back to the golden days when diesel boat engines were 2 stroke and made a slow  “Donk,    Donk,      Donk ”  type of noise. These terms have remained alive,  however much  they may have been over taken by events, (after all, who actually wears  real “Oil Skins” these days?)

The real problem with this ????ing expensive software is that it’s suggestion is that we should:: “Turn the Donk on! for four days!.  I have already explained the difficulty in that proposal – not enough go juice!

The key word in our conversations on board at the moment  is “Donkability”. Which of our various options are “Donkable”?   These terms sound like something to be discussed between  good friends, say  over a drink, sometime …   but, No! Donkability is a term of common currency on Serendipity!!   Such a broadminded boat that we are!

So, right now, we are bumbling along at maybe 3 knots. We have a  very helpful 0.5 kts of current pushing us our way westward ….   (morale would not be good were it adverse J). 

Errrr…. Don’t have a plan that I’d like to share, yet …..