Getting Nearer
Medical Issues
I have been asked what we do about medical issues on board and what medical kit do we carry. The medical kit we carry is extensive, largely helped by my cousin Ben who is a Doctor and has been on board. It is kept in a large cupboard behind the navigation station so easily accessible. We collated an extensive kit for our first Atlantic crossing in 2019 and this has formed the base for Stormbird’s current kit, albeit we replaced expired medicines expired with those in date. We do not just have a few plasters etc but an extensive kit which includes many dressings to deal with burns, serious cuts, extensive blood loss and it has been described by others as a “mini surgery”. We can make plaster casts, fit catheters if we need to and have our own range of medicines including antibiotics. We may have a Doctor on board from time to time but as Skipper I am responsible for medical issues and the issuing of medication other than that prescribed to individuals by their own Doctor. One of the reasons for having satellite phones and/or Starlink is that we can call for help if we need to in a medical emergency and we may well have the equipment to treat it on board within our kit. This includes items for eyes, teeth, stomach problems and sea sickness. So far this trip luckily we have only had sea sickness to contend with and that has now resolved itself. There are Doctors and organisations we can ring to get help if we need to. The main aim is for everyone to take care, wear life jackets and harnesses and not put themselves in danger of being injured.
Today
We were able sail through the night at a reasonable speed although I was woken by a different motion feeling on the 5-8.00am watch. The wind had dropped a bit and our angle (140 degrees to Starboard) was too far off the wind for the conditions and the sails were flogging a bit. I therefore took us a little closer to the wind and on to 120/130. This made some difference as the wind fills the sails more consistently. The day seemed quite different in that there was a lot of cloud cover and it seemed quite an English type of grey. The sea was not its usual blue and there were a few white horses. The clouds start to tower as you get nearer to the Caribbean and there is often more wind underneath them. You have to watch out for the darker looking ones which also have rain and higher winds under them. The 5-8.00am watch (Keith and Peter) reported quite heavy rain at 6.00am and winds up to 20kts. When Robbie and I took over at 8.00am (with 700 nm to go to Barbados) we saw rain under certain clouds in the distance. We therefore now need to be more alert to this so that we can consider whether to take avoiding action or reef (reduce sail) before the cloud in question. It is fine during the day as you can see them but what about the night? Well we can use our radar which has a rain setting so you can see the rain on the screen and decide what to do accordingly. In 2019 on my last boat we were caught out under one of these rain clouds. The wind suddenly went from 12 -30kts in seconds and the rain was so heavy that I could hardly keep my eyelids open and the sea state went from 2-3 m swells to being like a millpond in seconds. This only lasted a few minutes and then it was back to normal again so this is why we now need to start looking out for them.
As our watch continued the wind strengthened and we were cracking along in excess of 8 kts and in our last 3 hours of our watch we averaged 8 kts an hour. Robbie and I did our usual boat checks and internal cleaning and I charged the batteries with the generator and made water. We seem to get through about 800 lts every 2 days. This will include showering, washing, washing up, drinking (there is a lot of tea and coffee consumed) and hand washing which a number of then crew do regularly. I have not done any and am hoping I will find a laundry to do all mine and the sheets when we get to Barbados.
We have worked out that we need to keep the speed up to 7 kts to get there in the pm of the 19th. If we can keep it nearer 8 kts this will make a difference. The wind should hold now all the way so with reviewing the weather we need to keep in the corridor of the stronger winds to get there on time. The wind has not been particularly helpful on this trip but we are on a roll now. The wind also has been moving back and forwards so sometimes we are heading on a course of 255 degrees and other times up to 310 degrees. This does not help but with some adjustment we are hoping to sail a direct course on this current tack (starboard) otherwise we may have to gybe and zig zag which will put extra distance on our trip.
We are starting to run out of salad, tomatoes, carrots and other such vegetables and visits to the naughty cupboard have been restricted to ensure its contents last. Mark’s brownies are still going well and Keith’s flapjacks have yet to be started. The day continued with the wind gradually declining to about 12-14kts which is not really enough but it is what it is. The forecast is to get a bit stronger overnight so hopefully we will make up some miles. The afternoon passed relaxing, sleeping, reading etc if you were not on watch. There was another nice sunset but partially blocked by cloud. We had a nice chicken curry listening to Simon and Garfunkel and talking about our favourite films. Mile by mile we are getting closer and as I finish this there is 622 nm to go. Cannot wait!
Distance last 24 hours 162 nm
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