Day 7 Noon Position 22:59.083N 32:36.622W
SeaTrek
Bill and Judy Stellin
Fri 7 Dec 2007 15:11
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We continue our trek west with good progress.
Our noon to noon distance was 162 nm.
Currently we have 987 miles on the log with 1622 to go. Our course is 243
degrees which is the direction we want to go. The weather has been so-so,
with periods of rain, high winds between 20-30 knots and monster
seas. Right now it is sunny 79 degrees and low humidity. The humidity has
been low every day which surprises us for being in the middle of an
ocean.
Last night when most of the rain came, it occurred over
the entire night but for only a very brief period each time. Every time
however brought higher winds and we recorded 38 knots at one point. We
were sailing quite conservatively with only a poled our genoa and the boat
handled the high winds with no problems save for a few slews around coming down
the face of these swells. Many of them were 8 to 10 meters high. All
night and all day for it seems the entire trip, we've only been sailing up hill
or down hill. Never entirely level. Every bit has been dead
downwind. Earlier today I took the helm to see what it would be like to guide
the boat as directly down a wave as I could. The pilot does a good job in these
conditions but it wanders a bit down waves. On my try, we felt like being
on a toboggan. There was a huge bow wave and a rooster tail. We hit
about 12 knots on the surf. The boat is on the auto pilot 99% of the time and
after all these years, I still marvel at how well it steers especially in trying
down wind conditions with big seas. I can't ever remembering broaching
because it couldn't handle the situation.
Last night 3 flying fish committed suicide on our
deck. They flop around for quite a while trying to take off again I
suppose and in the process lose many of their scales, which are
everywhere. Especially with sea water coming on deck and rain which washes
them into every nook and cranny. They dry like they were glued
on.
Nothing broke over the past 24 hours which is a
blessing.
All is well onboard.
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