Day 24
My prediction that I wouldn't post yesterday's
blog before another squall came through was correct. However the winds stayed
pretty consistent and in the right direction and we made decent miles through
the evening and overnight.
My appetite returned last night and we had the
last of the Mahi Mahi oven-baked. It was every bit as delicious; possibly more
so, than the pan-fried cuts we'd had two nights previous.
Before bedtime we made sure both sails were well
reefed down and once again we both slept below decks with Jamie making his
customary checks through the night.
This morning we awoke to a slightly more
comfortable motion. The wind having moved round from the beam more to our
stern. There is still enough motion to keep us well on our toes and we spend as
much time mopping up hot drinks as we spend making them but just a slight
easing from the past few days is enough to make a huge difference.
At midday the grey finally cleared and the sun
came out. After spending the last 2 days below decks we emerged like moles out
of our hole into the outside world and blinked around at the blue sky lined
with fluffy white clouds and the rolling blue ocean slapping around us. It has
been a wonderful feeling to be sitting up in the cockpit again with the warm breeze
blowing in our faces and the gentle creeking as our full sails pull on their
lines.
Jamie has been preparing the dough for another
loaf of fresh bread and has even made himself some home made baked beans for
breakfast tomorrow! I have been reading up on the Marquesa islands in our book “Landfalls
of paradise” where we plan to make landfall. It looks very beautiful from
the pictures in the book. Although to be honest anywhere will probably look
beautiful after 6 weeks at sea but it really does look quite spectacular;
certainly what I imagine a "paradise landfall" to look like!!
The sea state is still very similar to what I
described in yesterday's blog; although perhaps not quite so steep and as the
water is deep blue and dappled with sunlight it looks much less menacing and
turgid than yesterday. Every now and then two waves meet each other at Hamble
Warrior traveling in opposing directions. The result is what Jamie has named
"the bomb" whereby we heal right over to the power of one wave only
to be slapped right back again by the other with an accompanying boom that has
Meep’s eyes wide open every time! This seems to happen most frequently
when we have just made a cuppa! We also get the occasional "hull
slapper" which sprays straight over the gunwhales and across the cockpit.
I am currently sitting on the windward side of the cockpit writing up my blog
on my phone; having just had a lovely fresh-water wash and scrub-up with a
fresh cup of coffee. I couldn't be more inviting to a bomb and hull-slapper
assault if I tried!!!!!
So Friday night is looming and whilst you lucky
buggers are no doubt skipping back from the pub or finishing up your last
enormous glass of wine of the evening we are getting excited about the prospect
of cracking open a bottle of Sprite that has been chilling in the fridge all
day and playing out a particularly spicy "Yahtzee" rubber.
We are definitely not complaining though; the
miles are ticking down nicely and our 5pm to 5pm daily run is a rather
satisfying 140nm. If you look at our position on the map now you can see we
are starting to make some serious progress towards the Marquesas at last.
Meep doesn't know it yet but he has a Tupperware
full of flying fish in the fridge; gathered from the decks this morning, so he
has a good night ahead of him.
Hoping you have all had a fun Friday night and
wishing you a relaxing weekend whatever your plans are.
