Hi All,
It's bee n a long couple of days since the last news from Drina... So I have to admit to being a little relieved when a mail arrived late this afternoon. The good news is that all's well on board, though a little chilly, not Chile... Both the heaters are now being deployed all the time to maintain a comfortable environment below deck. The fuel situation is better than expected and they have only used one of the two fuel bladders that they have on deck. My DR position had them at 44.5S and 165W... However Michael reports that they are only 43.5S and 170W approximately. They have been running under double reefed main and a small scrap of polled out stay sail for three days in about 35 to 40 knots. So much for the weather analysis that suggested they should have experienced SW winds for the last 3 days...
Michael reports that the water generator, (counter intuitively it generates electricity) is working very well. So well in fact that he doesn't need to run the diesel to charge the batteries. Down side is that he has to run the diesel every couple of hours so that it doesn't get too cold to start when he needs it. So it seems it's six of one and a half dozen of the other. In any case all this electricity means that the deep freeze has been in good order for the trip so far. They are reaching the end of the fresh food and Alex is now eating defrosted peas and beans, while Michael is enjoying unfrozen beef and lamb.... with peas and beans!
They have about 3700 NM to go via the great circle route and plan to dip down into the high forties or low 50S on the passage. I've checked the ice edge with the Aussie BOM only to find that Casey Station is experiencing difficulties transmitting the data to Canberra. Consequently there are no ICE edge Sat images to see. After a few mails I've now established a link with one of the techo's at BOM and I'm in the loop. So I'm sending word pictures of the ice edge to Drina...
That's all for now, All the best PK 
Strewth: Jan 2010
Bathurst Harbour
Check Drina's latest position, click the link below.
http://shiptrak.org/?callsign=vj5319&filter=90My posts: 
Paul Kerrigan
Strewth: Jan 2010Bathurst Harbour
Check Drina's latest position, click the link below.
http://shiptrak.org/?callsign=vj5319&filter=90
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