25/12/23 - Christmas Day Part 2

We continued to make pretty good progress under the cruising chute and for a few hours the extra speed it gave us (4-5 knots) combined with flatter seas, dramatically reduced our rolling. Apart from the improved progress, two other welcome consequences became apparent.

Firstly we were able to get a Starlink connection - via our patent pending gimbal device and the reduced rolling - within 25 minutes! 

I was able to hold a video call with Sharon and the whole family including our American visitors as they were having Christmas dinner. 

Secondly, the conditions in the galley made Mick's job of cooking our Christmas dinner of Spam Fritters and roasted vegetables much less challenging than it would otherwise have been. It turned out very well too. Indeed we were both so stuffed that we had no room for dessert. Which was just as well because we hadn't made one. The chocolate cake will have to be a Boxing Day or later treat.

The wind fell even more during the afternoon, evening and night and by nightfall Bonny had slowed to a crawl of 1-2 knots and annoyingly a steep swell had reappeared knocking what little wind there was out of the cruising chute and causing it to tangle round itself and the rigging. 

And so things continued through Mick's Watch.... and ....