13/6/09 - 0.17.09N 93.55.07W
Flying Cloud
Julian Nichols
Sat 13 Jun 2009 02:46
Av Speed: 4.875 knots
Wind Hi / lo: 3 - 12 knots
Engine Hrs: 5hrs
We have been in the northern hemisphere a little longer than intended now, but we are still here for a good time and not a long time. Hopefully we will cross it and be back South of the border tomorrow - otherwise we will end up having given Elvis a head start (due to leave Puerto Ayora in the Southern Hemisphere tomorrow).
If anyone had told me that i would be wearing a fleece on the equator i would not have taken them seriously. It was cold and damp last night, but there was a beautiful sunset - my first on the boat in the Pacific. Lets hope when we are 17 miles south it will be warm again! Dinner wasn't so bad - despite the steak / minced beef mix up. Anyway we are a no blame culture on the Cloud, and a Happy Crew is a crew who can eat up what's served and enjoy it!
Today has been another enormously productive day, with Matt and I kicking off the intensive Yogalates course - 1hr a day i'll have you know.
In addition i've done a bit more washing and the Cloud looks and smells beautiful. Matt cooked a fantastic Spanish omelette brunch today - yum.
Despite penciling in some boxing today, we have run out of time - maybe tomorrow. Its a non stop thing this sailing you know.
Oh yes, lastly i can now do my scales on the guitar and have learned 5 chords. When we arrive in the Marquesas (at our current speed in about 30 days time) i might be able to play something!
Julian
Captains Corner:
It's been a hard day today, I got stuck into a high quality bit of literature last night (Centurion, very high brow) and despite my best intentions, had a lot of trouble tearing myself away from it. So far, Yogalates was the only bit of productive activity (other than watch keeping) I've managed today! Fortunately, I've finished with the Roman times and am now attempting to atone for my lack of productivity by sorting out our prescription meds box. This was newly topped up in the Galapagos, as the pharmacists essentially will give out anything from their shelves without a prescription, and in two cases, went over to the hospital to get items not on their shelves! It's very exciting going through these lists of pills I hope we never use and that have a limited expiration date! Here's hoping our little spate of issues in Galapagos with my leprous, infectious eyes is the last of our medical issues for a long while... However, Julian seems to be strangely drawn to the foley catheter, size 18!!!
We've already settled into a very comfortable, informal routine, literally changing watch when the present watch keeper decides it's the next person's turn... Not something I'd like to try with a group, but with two (one of which being ever-active Jules) it's working a treat! Night watches so far have been a breeze, and the days are flying by... Maybe one of these days so will our distance made good!
Mattman