L'Eau Commotion Westabout

7:30pm Friday 20th October 2017 ( UTC ) Had a good fast run through the night with everything under control but as the morning progressed and the speed getting up to an average of nine knots things started to get out of hand. The wind had gradually increased to about 24 knots and the autopilot would have the yacht rounding up or falling away. When the whops! became whaps! It was time to furl the asymmetrical which worked out well - a little out on the sheet, a few turns and so forth. It was much more comfortable with just the poled out jib and we were still making over 7 knots so some housework was completed. As it was still comfortable it was time to take up some slack in the under deck wire cables that connect the steering wheel with the steering quadrant. Much thought was put in to whether to heave too or climb down into the very limited space in the lazarette with the electric ram pushing in and out all the time and the possibility of getting caught up in the machinery as against disconnecting it and having the rudder slamming against the stops. The first was done but much care taken with placement of tools and fingers. I have shown enthusiasm for the electric autopilot but current supply had become a problem with overcast sky and very little apparent wind for the Silentwind to contribute much so now the Windpilot is back in favour though much tweaking is still in progress with just the asymmetrical sheeted to the boom.