Bulletin: 24th December 2007
Michèle’s Christmas present
No great changes in TEMENOS II’s sky for the past two days. The front has slowed its progress and is now confined to the monohull's wake. Suffering from the proximity of a large zone of high pressure under Australia, it is losing momentum. Contacted this morning, Dominique confirmed the situation, but for now aboard TEMENOS II we’re soon going to start preparing for the Christmas Eve celebrations in the Southern hemisphere.
“The front is crumbling. We have a good twenty or so knots, but we’re a long way off the forecast 35, especially as the angle isn’t very good. The wind is becoming more favourable and is likely to help us make northing. It's absolutely imperative that we avoid falling into the area of high pressure situated to the South of Australia. Tomorrow it should be better orientated.
Michèle is sleeping but as soon as she wakes up we’re certainly going to prepare our little Christmas Eve festivities.
In a message sent last night, Michèle looked into this rather special day.
"I learnt today of Sydney’s birthday and I would like to make the most of the opportunity to wish him a belated happy birthday and thank him again for all the lovely texts, which have made enchanting reading over the past few weeks.
As for the day’s little snapshot, it is grey again and today the Indian Ocean looks similar to Brittany, complete with a little drizzle. The front which we’ve been expecting for a good twenty hours is dragging its heels and we’re still left wondering where it's got to. We are close to a zone of high pressure, which we’ve been flirting dangerously with since yesterday. The barometer is playing with our nerves, it hesitates, climbing up, then dropping down and then climbing back up… we’re watching it carefully but there’s still no shadow of a reform with a steep drop in pressure.
Since yesterday TEMENOS II has been sporting the Christmas colours and I have finally gone and tracked down Father Christmas' sack (exceptionally this year it's not going to be red, but blue and waterproof and marked Christmas in big lettering). Father Christmas had hidden it behind the port daggerboard case and I’ve been regularly eyeing it up for some time.
I’m opening it, two dustbin bags are inside… well, we’re going to leave the formalities of wrapping to one side, it’s what's inside that counts isn't it? I’m resisting the desire to open the one marked “Presents don’t touch before Christmas”. Ok, since that’s what's written on it…!
We’re making do with the bag of decorations for now in the knowledge that if we're patient the time for opening the presents will be upon us soon.
No splendour or razzmatazz aboard TEMENOS II, given the weight control, just two garlands, a little flashing snowman and a Father Christmas have been allow onboard but they’re already brightening things up a lot down below. As I'm speaking to you I’m also tête a tête with the onboard Father Christmas. A wave is hitting the side of the boat causing it to yaw slightly. I'm leaving my virtual heading to get back on my instrumental heading. To end, the greatest present I have this year, is what I’m in the process of experiencing…
Michèle aboard TEMENOS II"