The morning greets us with overcast weather and a favorable wind shift. We are therefore readying the “Asymetric” a modified Spinnaker that allows us to sail higher up-wind at a greater speed. Some of us from the late shift are beat and go to sleep…
The day is spent raising and lowering the Asymetric because of the variable wind directions, and this impacts our progress somehow. By now most of the fleet of yachts has spread out, some opting to ail downwind in search of favorable currents and stronger winds; few opt to stay in the 270 course because it requires more up-wind sailing … in other words, a more uncomfortable route
Yet there is some time for gourmet cooking … here a delicious chicken stew served over rice … yummm for lunch.
The day soon clears and brings some welcoming warmth.
But we also spot “Vina del Mar” a boat with a less favorable handicap than ours sail up to us and then drift north past us. These winds favor her tremendously … clearly! Now we must not only make sure Tivoli finishes behind us but also “Vina del Mar” needs to finish within sight of us.
But we also spot “Vina del Mar” a boat with a less favorable handicap than ours sail up to us and then drift north past us. These winds favor her tremendously … clearly! Now we must not only make sure Tivoli finishes behind us but also “Vina del Mar” needs to finish within sight of us.
The asymmetric is up again and we are gaining good ground
For dinner: Penne Carbonara with fresh Parmesan cheese…
The back to shifts and sleep, when possible, where-ever possible
The night brings some visitors as well … flying fish ... they reach good heights now and then and fly righ into the ship’s cockpit ….
This guy we were able to grab and throw back in the water … not sure if he was running away from a hungry shark or larger fish or just swimming around … either way, he is not good eats so off he goes back in the water.
This guy we were able to grab and throw back in the water … not sure if he was running away from a hungry shark or larger fish or just swimming around … either way, he is not good eats so off he goes back in the water.
We were also visited by a school of dolphins. Their sound as they exhale is a great sound out here in the middle of the ocean… it is reassuring and beats being surrounded by sharks (and I don’t mean lawyers) … although come to think of it being surrounded by lawyers can in no way be a good sign J. What is also remarkable is how clean the water is. As our boat cuts its way to Galapagos the disturbance of the water leaves a luminescence trail behind that is incredibly bright. So is the trail left behind by the dolphins, shapes in random “S” forms and they play around our boat.
The night brings also favorable winds, and at 11-12 knots we are able to reach speeds close to 8.5 knots and sail past “Vina del Mar”
No comments:
Post a Comment