Day 13....Facetime with the kids!!

Wallace's Sailing Adventure on "Arbella"
Mike and Vicki Wallace
Mon 10 Dec 2012 19:39

16:05.4N 57:36.6W  Well are now at 2692 miles behind us, and 221 miles to go.  We are sailing wing-on-wing, genoa and main, with the wind directly at our back and making about 8.2 knots.  The wind is still 22-24 knots, which is too strong to fly our asymmetrical or spinnaker.  We now expect to reach St. Lucia right about sunset tomorrow….after all the issues associated with crossing the “finish line”, recording our finish with the ARC people, and docking, we plan to hit the local pub for some liquid libation and celebration….after 14+ days at sea, it seems appropriate!!  Last night we had another terrific sunset, as shown below….I love Vicki’s perspective on sunrises and sunset, that is, “every one is like an original portrait, never to be repeated, so it needs to be enjoyed as it happens”…and that is what we do…it gets quiet, and all eyes focus for 30 minutes or so on “the unique portrait”!  Today was a “school day”….and I did Face time with the 3rd grade at Lake Magdalene School in Hillsborough County, Florida, organized by 2nd grade teacher Joanne Bokor, and 3rd grade teacher Rob Webb, with narration by Joanne Hainz.  They have been following the blog since the beginning, and their teacher, Rob Webb, has been drawing on the historical anecdotes I have provided for his instruction materials….so I guess I have a “blog following”!  With Joanne (Vicki’s sister), and Rob Web,  I showed the class around the boat…salon, galley, berthing…. and into the cockpit…seeing “the head” in the captain’s stateroom seemed to be a particular thrill for these 3rd graders…as well as the “lee cloth walled bunks” that we sleep in. They probably were able to appreciate the rolling of the boat, the 8-10 foot seas, and the white caps all around when I went topside.   I have never seen so many young kids so attentive and quiet…hopefully, some memory of “a sailboat sailing across the ocean” will be impressionable for them.  I certainly felt good when they all yelled “goodbye Captain Mike” at the end!  Just that signoff made the 14 days of blog entries worth the effort!!   “Captain Mike”

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