[password] radioactivâ¨[position] 32 16.274S 176 01.087Eâ¨[weather] 10-15knts W,SW, 1.5 mtr swell, 40% cloud cover, 1021 baroâ¨[speed] 8kntsâ¨[heading] 021Mâ¨[status] First day done and dusted, we had the screecher up all night, Sashaâs top speed was 16knots, Drew had 14knots, and Mike had 15.5, it was a quick, black as night sail that is for sure. Only a sliver of a moon, so starlight showed us the way. We started from behind the fleet, and quickly made it to the front. Aaaah, true MOONFISH styles.
However it hasnât been all plain sailing, early this morning, Drew was on the helm, just about to finish his graveyard shift (12pm to 3am), Mike was resting in the saloon, and lucky Sasha was fast asleep in the aft starboard berth, when Auto started to play up. Auto has been fine since Mike installed his new, fancy dancy gyro compass just before we headed off last season, but something caused him to have a spaz out last night, which is odd because he usually handles speeds up to 17knots easy. So Mike hand steered from 3am to 6am, and then Sasha took over until 9am, when Drew hopped back on. Breakfast was had, marmite toast and yoghurt and muesli. And ever since then Mike (soon to be SUPER Mike yet again) has been working on the auto-pilot. Heâs checked the motor, and the drive, and thinks the issue is an old cable from the original 2010 install of the auto pilot system. So itâs hand steering for now, fingers crossed we get it sorted, otherwise itâll be one long night of hand steering, but hey if Johnny Wray can do it⦠so can we.
[END]