An Otto Fright
10 December 2011 | Canaries to Grenada
Rodney
The wind has continued to build over the last day and night and is currently at 25 knots. The good news is that we are really flying the bad news is that the waves are getting really big. We did 177 miles over the last 24 hours and are 1714 miles from Grenada.
The boat is doing great but the size of the waves has caused some concerns about the autopilot (Otto). The thought of hand steering across the Atlantic is a scary proposition. We actually like to hand steer on the Cal 40 when we are in racing mode. You can always steer the boat faster by hand steering than using Otto. But now we are in cruising mode and comfort is king. Both Jamie and George have shared many stories about hand steering up and down the California coast. George actually hand steered all the way to Cabo on the Ha Ha. George says he can get used sailing across the Atlantic, if he only has to use two fingers
All this Otto discussion prompted Eric to embark on a mission to tighten the chain on the Autopilot drive unit. Jamie hand steered while Eric went to work with wrenches, pliers and a mission. Ten minutes later we told Jamie to give it a try. He yelled back promptly that the boat is rounding up, it doesn't work! I yelled back to Jamie that he only had 1714 miles to hand-steer. More wrenches, screw drivers, and a determined Eric found that one of the wires had come loose on the computer - leave it to the Electrical Engineer.
I awoke from my afternoon nap to relieve Eric at 4:00 pm as usual. I looked up at him and he had this big grin on his face from ear to ear. I asked him what he was doing - he said hand steering at 10 knots. Man this is fun! I guess there is some satisfaction in surfing a 47 foot catamaran down some pretty big waves! Jamie got the record today again with a a 12.8, George is in second with an 11.7.