Tough Day at the Plant

Tough Day at the Plant

West swell 12-15 feet, Southwest wind waves 6-8 feet, and winds 28 gusting 38 knots made for a tough day at the plant. It’s been a rough ride with too frequent heavy hits from cresting and breaking wave

I’ve been on deck all day trying to find the right speed to keep us safe. Earlier in the afternoon the Monitor seemed to be coping with speeds hovering around 8 knots but a wild few 30 or so seconds after being caught by a breaking crest ended with both the main and poled out Yankee back-winded and shaking the whole boat like a toy. After getting us back on course, I put the 4th reef in the Yankee. I had seen enough.

It’s nerve wracking to say the least. I would be far more comfortable with the main furled but we would be slow and likely still gybing uncontrollably. The waves are just knocking us about too much for the Solent to be flying free. The wind shift isn’t due until 3am tomorrow morning with no let up in the wind before that so it will be a restless, anxious night.

No rest for the weary this day. The only consolation is our progress East and even that is coming at a price almost to dear to pay.

If only there was a water-cooler nearby where I could commiserate with all the rest of the fellas working this shift…

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