Day 6

Pearl of Persia
Andrew Lock
Sun 24 Nov 2013 09:04
Lat 27:39.3S Long 044:46.6E
We are now heading east after turning the corner around Madagascar. A good
following current, sea and wind that in normal circumstances would see us
skimming along but we have had to reef back and slow down but we are still
making 7 or 8 knots. The waves throw us around and every 10 or 15 minutes
one hits the side of the boat at a slightly different angle, slamming into
the hull with a loud crack like a gun and sends a wall of water into the
cockpit. It's usually accompanied by a squeal. It's too warm for heavy
weather waterproofs, still T Shirts and shorts, so someone invariably gets a
shower.
An eerie occurrence last night. We were making good progress around
midnight. Absolute blackness, no stars or moon, when suddenly the wind died
completely, the sails crashing from side to side as the boat rolled around
in the swell. Not a breath of air. Then within 5 minutes, back it came, the
sails filled, the boat heeled over to 30 degrees and we were once again on
our way.