Log Day 24 - I talk to the ropes

MOVING south east, we are not getting the 25 knots hoped for to slip us fast below the 'pack'.  However I did trim my beard and we have had a steady 6 to 19 knots this past 24 hours. Being almost downwind, it is not good, since we need an angle of at least 135 degrees to keep speed at its optimum.

This has pulled us more north than planned where the pressure is less. The big tactical decision now is when or if to gybe back down for a short-term loss and possible long term gain. Ideally to be done on a wind shift.

Again, its been very busy day on board. Time flies and the mind wanders. Inanimate objects start to take on their own personality. For example, rope. This boat is full of it. Different strengths, uses, materials and pliability.

​With 62 different control lines, all coming back into the cockpit, unless constantly coiled, sorted and managed - when the manure hits the fan - and indeed it does from time to time - the chaos needs to be organized!!

Each rope takes on a personality. All are 'card carrying' members of (SARA) South Atlantic Residents Association. Some are a pleasure to coil, work with and handle, while others are difficult, kink and always seem to get in a knot. A reflection of life?

The green furling line for the enormous A3 downwind sail comes to mind. It always seems to get in a mess and the furling gives endless trouble. By contrast the reef clew lines on the main always work well. Or the cute little lines "Lazy Jacks" that keep the runner secure. I talk to the ropes.  Sometimes in jest and often in anger and some even answer back!

Moving from plant to animal life, each machine on the boat starts to take on a living personality. Higher levels of the universe. The self-steering system is called Molly Malone.

Molly sever complains, hardly ever stops - except in extreme conditions - and most days she simply get on with it. I talk to her all the time and Molly is great company, works hard and I find her reliable.
The two hydro generators, or the 'terrible twins 'as I call them. They are contrary. Also, while they look identical, one churns out twice the electricity charge as the other.
And so on with all the equipment on the boat.

Mind you, the one piece of equipment (for the lack of a better word) the boat lacks is a mirror. Or, if there is one, it cannot be seen. Indeed, unlike girls, men seldom spend time contemplating themselves in a mirror (is this a sexist comment?).

Perhaps the symbol of manliness should be an inverse relationship to the time spent looking at oneself in the mirror?

Anyway, today when it came to trimming my beard - for a video Log to send to my sponsors BIOLINE for their Conference, the mirror for execution was a real problem. Regardless my lady commandant, prefers short beards, as I do - Number 2 to be precise.

And it is for these reasons, today's video Log shows me trimming the beard. The camera became a substitute for a mirror - so while at it why not log it? -  and I was able to perform the act using the screen as my mirror.

Therefore camera, camera on the wall who is the prettiest of them all.most definitely not the Skipper of the Kilcullen Voyager, happy out with a newly trimmed beard.

Slainte and thanks again for your interest from the Southern Ocean, on behalf of SARA.

Enda O'Coineen
Lat 32 32 S
Long 22 29 W