The 16th Day of November, 2012

Infiniti
Fri 16 Nov 2012 15:56
Hi, Hello, and Good day to all of our loved ones, close friends, and
interested followers of the Sailing Vessel Infiniti,

Today as she makes her way across the Central Atlantic Ocean, the crew
remain bright and cheerful despite the lashings given by the Skipper to his
poor, poor crew. More on that later. To those following our track, you can
see we make a more Westerly course away from the coast of West Africa and
the Cape Verde Islands and follow the winds west to the Caribbean Sea. We
have now approximately sixteen hundred miles to reach the nearest Island of
Barbados, while we have travelled close to fourteen hundred miles since
leaving Las Palmas, Gran Caneria. It has been approximately twenty four
hundred miles since we slipped lines (cast off, departed, set sail land
lovers). A note to all: we have not used the engine once since leaving Las
Palmas. Only time was to remain stable while dinner came aboard two days
ago. ( lucky fish) As the winds remain favourable, albeit a bit weak, we
hope to sail the entire distance. Now on to the bit about our day to day
life aboard at sea. Yesterday I spoke of the long beautiful lazy days of the
Mid-Atlantic, today will be oriented towards the nights. As usual we all
gather at about six p.m. to eat our dinner meal. Conversations run towards
the exciting highlights of the day. (insert laugh here) After dinner the
skies have darkened considerably, and the night watches begin as Andy
assumes the six to nine watch. Matt, Kamarli and I, (Stephen, in case you
still are wondering :-)) watched the first part of the movie "Longitude".
After watching about ninety minutes we hit pause and headed to our cabins
for much needed Kip. (sleep, Americans, this is what the English call sleep)
Dan had retired shortly after dinner as his watch is nine p.m. to midnight.
He would need that rest as you will soon see. Since the weather has been so
warm it is not even necessary to cover at night to remain comfortable.
About two a.m. I heard the winches begin to grind. Shortly after came the
familiar words of "sail change". Now, usually the sail change at sea on a
rolling deck in the middle of a dark night is no hard task. Not easy, but
not hard. Only this time it's in driving rain. I had to smile as Dan is the
first face I see. He is truly soaking wet, and I know I will be shortly.
The sail change was complicated by a minor issue with the spinnaker pole
caused by a massive wind gust. It then added another forty minutes to the
sail change. Again I was smiling. Where else can you go from a dead sleep,
to outside in driving rain, in a matter of three minutes? As the task is
completed a bond is created and shared by all the crew as they participate.
The sail change was now complete at three fifteen a.m. Oh, my watch began at
three a.m. Again, up at forty minutes early for my watch, soaking wet
through, and finally got my first cup of coffee. The night finished out
quietly as it stopped raining at five thirty. Andy assumed watch again at
six a.m. So went the night last night. I had hoped to spend this time
writing about the stars being so bright, or the bioluminescence as the wake
stirs the microorganisms to shine their light to rival the stars. Maybe
tomorrow. Today has begun overcast with a steel grey sea. As the day gets
closer to midday, the skies are clearing and blue has returned to both the
sky and sea.

The crew sends all their Love, Hugs and Kisses,

S.V. Infiniti

Position: 20.53.1N 32.53.9W
Course: 259'
Speed: 8.5knots
Miles covered in last 24hrs: 197
P.S. I'll give Dan a nudge today on the Moustache competition only because
he did not call my 'stache Grey. He called it "Badger" He has likened his to
"Celtic Gold" BTW, my 'stache is not grey, its salt and pepper with lots and
lots of pepper. :-) Plus, I can afford to be generous at this point, I still
write the blogs!! Good Day.