Date Thursday 9 May 2013
Position North Cosica to the South Coast of France
0800 Position 43 04N 00917E YAWN!!! Woke up at 0800 after 12 hours of sleep to find still no wind. My body feels stiff after eight days of hard sailing, and I feel tired but healed and brilliant after having so much sleep! There is still no wind so I make a coffee and put on some tunes – Frank Turner is a good choice for the morning and I sing along! Nothing to do now but relax, and check over the boat until the wind comes back.
Throughout the night I have drifted east nearly 5nm, if I were able to anchor I would have made more ground towards my destination than trying to sail!
1000 Position 43 05N 009 16E Wind! Hoist full main and Light Weight Spinnaker. I gybe to make ground towards the French coast where I expect to find more wind.
1050 Position 43 06N 009 13E A fisherman came alongside and asked if I was ok. Cosica authorities were concerned as my small boat had not moved for 14 hours. 1 week now since I set off from Palma.
1416 Position 43 09N 008 54E. Wind veers to North and I peel to the Code 0. The boat nicely balanced so I turn off the pilot to save power and let the RG650 sail herself. I sit below to keep out of the sun, often returning to the deck to check for shipping and hazards. Making some good ground to the west now at 7-8kts
1606 Position 48 10N 008 45E Wind backed to WSW. Hoist solent and drop code 0 then tack towards France.
1930 Position 43 16N 008 30E Slow progress now in light and variable winds make for frustrating sailing. If autopilot had power I would read a book and sleep but instead I have to helm for 20hrs a day. Wind is WSW 0-6kts and up and down like a Yo Yo.
2030 Wind now more steady, boat sailing herself again