RG650 Mini Transat 816 Qualification Passage Log Day 11

Date Sunday 12 May 2013 Position Manorca

After an intense day of winds from the Mistral Richard Hewson and the RG650 bob around between the islands of Manorca and Mallorca. It was hoped the 1300nm passage would only take 10 days, but we are now on day 11 and conditions are not very favorable.

0630 Position 40 13N 3 57E Wind picked up from the south. Very light. After spending the morning doing circles we now can just make course for the NE tip of Mallorca. I have now run out of coffee and chocolate, and on my last three bottles of water.
0900 Position 40 14N 3 56E Light winds filling in from the North, scary storm clouds loom. Looks like a front but barometer is still rising. Full main and MWS. I scan the VHF for a weather forecast but hear nothing.
1100 Position 40 03N 03 44E Gybe to try to get further away from the land and the mountains of Mallorca. MWS and full main struggling to cope with light and variable winds. Without the full length bowsprit I am not sure if the LWS will fly. Winds shifting up to 40 deg 2-8kts. Everything is out to dry from dwon below, though sky still overcast.
1140 Falling asleep at helm. So sun = no solar = No power for pilot
1400 Wind shifted to SE – right where we want to go. Full main and solent up MWS down
1500 POsition 3955N 003 33E Wind now from North! Solent down, LWS up.. holds ok with shorter pole.
1750 Wind from south, LWS down, solent up
1800 No wind
2030 Wind from north, hoisted LWS
2359 No wind.. stuck like glue to the water!