LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 15:
February 10, 2000
0625 Sunrise
0900 The wind and sea surface are much as they were yesterday and the day before.
The wind, which is generally out of the east, occasionally shows some minor
variations in direction - sometimes ESE sometimes ENE but most the time it is
right out of the east. Its velocity is predominately 20 kts, although now and then
it will increase to 25 kts and sometimes it drops to about 17. On rare occasions
it has even dropped briefly as low as 10 kts. On the whole, though, it stays pretty
close to 20 kts. Since it blows continuously like this all the way from the
other side of the Atlantic there is plenty of opportunity for the waves to build
to a rather substantial size. I would have expected that there would have been
a long distance between the crests of the waves under such circumstances - as is
characteristic of the waves emanating from a tropical storm or hurricane several
hundred miles away. But that does not seem to be the case. The waves are shorter
and steeper than I would expect. In flatter water with such a breeze and sailing
on a beam reach, one would expect to experience a delightful ride. But the lumpy
water gives the boat a distinctly "jerky" motion, which tends to keep one always off
balance. It is impossible to stand anywhere in the boat - even briefly - without
constantly holding on because there is no way of anticipating what kind of gyration
the boat will experience in the next moment - nor how extreme that gyration will be.
Amid this the waves continue to come aboard the boat from time to time. Those that
wind up in the cockpit also seem to find their way into the cabin unless the companionway
is kept closed. And if they get into the cabin they threaten the electronic equipment so
there is no option but to keep the boat pretty well buttoned up. That makes it stuffy!
1100 While reading a guidebook for the Windward Islands this morning I chanced
upon a section addressing the proper disposal of trash. Naturally it is not good
to just toss ones trash overboard. That has been pretty ingrained in many of us
who go out on the water. The writer made note of the fact that turtles eat jelly
fish and they will sometimes mistake plastic bags for food. This has caused internal
blockages and deaths of creatures already on the endangered species list. So all plastics
must be disposed of ashore. On the other hand, the writer emphasized that fruits and
vegetables can carry Mediterranean fruit fly eggs and certain diseases that exist on
some of the islands - but not on others. As a result, the remnants of fruits and vegetables
must not be taken ashore. That means deep-water (over 600') disposal of such garbage
in areas where there is not a lee shore onto which it might drift. Accordingly I have
disposed of all fruits & vegetables that look like they won't make it through the coming
port visit. In so doing I hope to avoid finding myself wishing I could get rid of such items
while I'min port.
1500 Started the engine to charge batteries. I am currently expecting to arrive
abeam the light on Harrison Point at the northern end of Barbados shortly after
daybreak tomorrow. From that point I shall sail along the leeward (west) shore o
f the Island for about another 14 NM before anchoring at Bridgetown. The anchorage
at Bridgetown is formed by an indentation in the coastline. Basically it is an open roadstead
exposed to the west. It is well protected from the easterly trade winds, but would be a
dangerous place to anchor when a tropical storm or hurricane threatens to bring strong
winds from other directions. Since hurricane season runs from the first of June through the
end of November this not expected to be of concern during this visit.
1759 Sunset.  Secured the engine.
1930 Position: 14-24N 059-38W. The distance remaining to Bridgetown is 80 NM.
END OF LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 15


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