Day 12
CuriousOyster
Steve & Trish Brown
Fri 5 Dec 2008 12:53
Well, this is what we came for!!!!!!!!!!!
The last 24 hours have been a fantastic rollercoaster ride in huge seas and
high winds.
Our noon to noon positions show that we have covered 202 nm during the
period, with average speeds in the high 9's and a maximum speed attained
when surfing down a huge wave an amazing 15.4 knots!!!
Yesterday afternoon we tried to skirt a huge area of rainstorm but caught
the last 30 miles or so. The winds built and the rain lashed down and the
boat flew along at 10 kts +. The following seas were massive with big
breaking waves and surf sounding like an express train passing close by. We
all thought that it could not get any more extreme but as night fell the
winds picked up further with 30kts+ the norm and gusts in the squalls of
40+!!!
We held all sail for a while but had to reef down heavily in the squalls and
with only a scrap of mainsail hit consistent 10 kts with the 15.4 record
achieved at this time. By day the seas look and sound big but at night they
are amplified and to look astern and see the next big wave as high as the
bimini cover is something else and to know that the boat will simply lift up
with this wave and then settle down nicely on track is really comforting.
Curious is an incredible boat, safe, strong and secure and at no time have
we felt out of control.
The downside to all this excitement is that preparing meals is very
difficult, you cannot even put a cup down for a second without it being
tipped up and sleeping is also almost impossible as it feels and sounds like
you are in a cement mixer.
All aboard are well, in awe of the power of nature, a little tired and in
need of a shower.
The winds have now died to a steady 15 to 20kts, we continue to make good
progress but we are left with the big rolling seas that are the aftermath of
yesterdays storms.
We have some great video footage of the big seas to share with you when we
get back.
With luck and another good days run we should have less than 1,000 miles to
go by noon tomorrow.
And now for our guest writer......Glen
I have the honour and pleasure of being asked to make a guest entry into the
blog of S/Y CURIOUS. Skipper Steve's narrative above describes the
excitement and thrill we experienced onboard for approximately 12 hours last
night. It is hard to imagine that the sea has the power to raise a 60,000 lb
boat up 30+ ft in seconds and then gently and safely roll her down the surf
at speeds that astound. The emotions during this time ranged from youthful
exuberance, "more, faster, again", all the way to "when should we put a reef
in"! And the sound, the roaring of the water as it crashes around the boat
into a bath of white froth, is akin to the applause of 100,000 people in an
enclosed stadium.
This is the sailing experience that I have come for, the excitement and
thrill of sailing across the Atlantic wouldn't be complete for me without a
night like last night. And CURIOUS is without any doubt a safe, stable boat
that continues to impress us in all aspects. For a kid that grew up in the
Maritimes of Canada, I have been "Living my Dream".
In closing my editorial, I offer you the words of another, who words go
something like this; ". . . in 20 years you will be more disappointed by the
things you didn't do than by those you did, so cast off the lines, sail away
from the dock, and live life to the fullest."
Respectfully submitted by:
Glenn Ross
Humble crewman
S?Y CURIOUS
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