Windhorse Sailing

On the 19th we made the decision to alter course to Buenos Aires. The south Atlantic high has been stationed fairly far south for most of the season. Therefore traveling to St Helena Island at 16 degrees south latitude is way farther north than we need to go.

Having left Cape Town behind schedule, and then 5 days pit stop in Luderitz, Namibia, we were anxious to get some miles under our belts. We left Luderitz last Monday afternoon and sat becalmed for 4 days in the fog that develops over the cold Atlantic off the Namibian dessert. 40 miles in 4 days. We had looked forward to visiting an Island with so much history, but honestly, the longer we sat the more it seemed just a rock in the middle of the ocean.

Our decision has been rewarded with a return of the trades and clear skies. Since Friday we have averaged 140 miles a day in ever warmer waters heading now due west at 24’south. We estimate that by skipping St Helena we save ourselves 1 to 3 weeks getting to South America.

In the calms off Namibia we motored for a few hours everyday to get further offshore. But in an effort to conserve fuel we mostly waited for wind. Being such purists it seemed a crime to motor at all, but we did it to charge our batteries so we could watch DVDs and run the fridge to keep our 30 days store of meats frozen. You know, ostrich, pork chops, legs of lamb, that kind of stuff. Those 4 days weren’t all that bad. Add to that we did catch a Yellowtail, a Dorado and an Albacore. Surf and turf, all the hard work is paying off.

Now in the trades we are moving fast and our spirits are high. For the sailing reader we are on a broad reach and our wind vain is working great. (the gizmo that steers the boat by the constant wind.) The guy on watch can read or do chores while the wind vane keeps course. If it goes off course for any reason the sails let you know. Overall Shangri- La is well balanced and we have experimented with every sail configuration to find that balance.

By day we have gone full main and headsail (genoa). At night we go to the second reef of three on the main and furl the headsail as needed. With a gybe preventer on the boom we feel well prepared for squalls or heavy seas, which have yet to appear. So far 15 to 25 knot southeasterly with a moderate SE swell. Hopefully it will be clear sailing all the way to Argentina, and precaution will be our insurance.

The 3 of us work the helm 4-hour shifts in the day and 3hour shifts at night. That way we have a different schedule everyday. Getting used to the schedule makes us sleep odd hours, I’m almost nocturnal, but we are starting to settle in. Off time is spent writing, reading, or in my case sewing a twelve-foot tear in the spinnaker. Francis has been working with his sextant and Stevo has been deciphering an 8-plait eye splice (rope talk for a complex weave of a large anchor rope.) Stevo also bakes bread as fast as we can eat it; sourdough, pepperoni/cheese bread, you name it.

As far as reading we are short on novels so we read technical books on diesel engines, rigging, rope splicing, and for me Spanish slang reader. Francis got me a gift of a book called “hide this Spanish Book"-Berlitz. I can’t believe the stuff in it. I am sure to be prepared to yell obscenities at a soccer game. We figure to be there in 35 days roughly April 18th give or take.

Letters or packages to: L, F or S
Hold for Shangri La (yacht in transit)
Yacht club Argentino
Viamonte y Costanara Sur, Darsena Norte
1107 Capital Federal, Argentina