Food running out on LG Flatron?

Alie Layton on the race to reach la Rochelle before the food runs out

Days are passing fast and we are now only one week (hopefully, or we may run out of food) from La Rochelle.
Since we passed the equator on 30 May the sailing mode has changed dramatically. From quiet winds and flat seas we are now moving at an average speed of eight knots upwind with a boat angle of 30 deg at best. The crossing of the Canaries islands was a bit of a yo yo game with LG going from third place to seventh and back to fourth and sixth... Wind was very unpredictable and the islands have many wind shadow areas where you are at risk if you take a slightly wrong route only to be parked up for hours together before you can start moving again... Fortunately we did not get stuck too much but for those of you who have a computer and look at the web you must be wondering if we did decide to stop on one of the islands for tourism!

Yesterday we passed Madeira, an absolute wonder from afar (and I am told, a lovely vacation site). The sunset was amazing making the island look like an erupting volcano. Since we started in Cape Town we have seen so many beautiful sunsets and sunrises that we start being used to it (not blase yet as we keep on taking pictures...) Life on board is now more challenging as walking on deck or down below is a bit of a struggle. The best part though is the bed time challenge when after finally lying down in your bunk you hear the fateful words: Ready about! i.e. the boat is going to change course, and you need to get out from your bunk with sleeping bag and the rest of it and move to the high side of the boat (to keep the speed up - weight needs to be on the high side) and being asleep does not mean you become weightless (I wish !). When you have three hours to sleep and you need to move twice - well I'll let you guess the joy!

Getting in and out of our oilies is equally a drag. We need at least 20 minutes to get dressed up and the same amount of time to get undressed. As a legger I am the lucky winner of the furthest hook in the foulies locker that mean I need to swim across a sea of clothing (usually wet) to get to mine and it weighs a ton ! My arms are getting stronger by the minute. Food is surprisingly OK, I am surprised that I do not find it too horrible.

I get the occasional joke on how a French person can cope with this but hey, this is what we signed for ! As well using the heads (toilet) is something that one must experience at least once just to make sure one appreciates the comfort of an en suite bathroom when we come back. The heads are in the front of the boat and the banging and moving of the whole hatch is at its best there. Try to imagine going to the loo in an elevator which has gone mad and goes up and down every four seconds and bangs when it lands. I can see you smile :)

The other day I was trying to wash my teeth when a big wave hit the hatch. I was about 10 cms off the floor for a couple of seconds and ended up with my elbow in the sink. My elbow is all black from the bruise. Not a big deal but it does not look very pretty.

more from Alie on page 2.......