Last night we steadily sailed along under the blanket of twinkling stars, topping out at 7 knots. One week today until Christmas at Sea! Hopefully everyone on board has finished their Christmas shopping, there’s no running to the store on Christmas Eve for us sailors. We have to be savvy and creative in terms of coming up with a last minute gift. The benefit of Christmas on board is that it’s the thought that counts, and when in doubt give chocolate.
Today has been productive in terms of ship’s work. The rigging team, Anders, Anne-Laure and Annie, along with many helpful hands, sent down the foresail and swapped it out for a heavier duty canvas foresail in preparation for sailing around Cape of Good Hope. After which the riggers swapped out the old buntlines on the foresail with brand new manila line! This made for many bitter ends that required whippings. With the help of the 4-8 on duty watch all crowded around the well deck bench, they were able to complete all 6 whippings. Our sailmaking team, John and Sue, continue work on the new spanker, making sure those corner patches are as strong as ever. Arne of Minnesota worked on caulking seams on the quarterdeck, while his watch painted the waterways a fresh coat of Christmas red. The engineers, Deyan of Switzerland and Braham of Texas, came up from down below to fix the pilot lights on the stove in Donald’s galley, rather important to have a working stove top. To end the day off we caught not one but two mahi mahi!
From: Bali, Indonesia
Towards: Rodrigues
Date: Tuesday December 18th, 2018
Noon Position: 11°29.2’S x 100°21.6’E
Course + Speed: W 1/2 S + 5.7 kts
Wind direction + Force: SSE + 4
Swell Height + Direction: 3m + NW/SExS
Weather: Overcast, periods of sun
Day’s Run: 136.6 nm
Passage Log: 1161.7 nm
Distance to Port: 2185 nm
Voyage: 14937.5 nm
Sails Set: All sails except spanker, gaff topsail, mizzen staysail