Position at 1430
GMT-6: 4 21.6S 101 05.6W
We've covered 172nm
in the last 24 hours - initially in light winds using the big spinnaker - but
building winds during the night forced us to get that down (little bit of drama
there, but nothing serious) and put the jib up for the rest of the night and the
morning. Some rain and lots of cloud this morning and variable winds, which have
gradually cleared up to give us mostly clear skies and about 20kts of wind just
behind the port beam. Currently cruising along with one reef in the main and the
small spinnaker doing 8-9kts.
Not sure on miles
overground yet (having MaxSea issues) but anticipate about 190 with the helpful
current.
Tuck got attacked by
a flying fish this afternoon. We've been seeing swarms of them today. Jem was
just noting how they must hit the water pretty hard on re-entry when she yelled
'incoming'! to which we (Jem, Paul, Tuck and I) ducked as best we could. That
was shortly followed by some screaming from tuck, and hilarious laughter from
the rest of us - it had flown straight into her neck. Little things. At least it
resolved the decision about whether to wash today or wait for
tomorrow...
Ewan
Notes from
Colin:
Sunday 17 May 2009 – The
Hours
Day four. Each two-man shift
has now been through the full rotation of watches. Everyone has seen every hour
of the day. As the weather remains kind to us a pattern is developing. The tail
end of the 3-6am shift sees it get light behind us and the sun rises shortly
after the 6-9am shift begins. By the end of this shift it is warm, and 9am-12pm
is becoming the suntan shift. The sun rises to its zenith, getting hotter and
hotter, and by 10am it is baking. By midday the sea looks all too appealing and
spray over the sides from waves is welcome. Shortly after 1pm deck begins to get
shaded by the top of the mainsail and becomes a cool retreat in the afternoon. By 4pm
the temperature is the most pleasant of the day and the light becomes richer and
warmer. The sun catches the tops of
the endless ranks of waves marching away from us towards the horizon underneath
the main on the starboard side and by 5pm the blue sky is fading into pastel
colours. The last few evenings have seen the sky covered in all directions by
long lines of small cumulus clouds. Soon after 6pm the sun dips below the
horizon for another day. No green flash yet though – is it a myth? The stars are
not long behind. In early evening the Southern Cross is visible on our port side
at the same time as the Big Dipper, upside down, is in the sky on our starboard. At the
same time Orion is dead ahead of us, but disappears from view after a few hours.
The starry starry night deepens, pierced by occasional shooting stars, until the
first suggestions of light in the East and a new day. These timings will change
the further West we get but judging by the short-term weather forecasts this
pattern will remain the same for the foreseeable.
Of other life there is
little sign. A few birds, petrels and shearwaters, and flying fish are our only
companions. Some squid have washed up on deck during the last few nights.
Unfortunately not big enough for calamari
though.
