A clear, sunny day of light airs. The Captain declared it a crime to motor on such a fine day so we shut down the engine and set all sails early in the morning, and had a gorgeous day of sailing slowly before taking in sail and steaming overnight to make up time. This afternoon’s workshop was part III of the ditty bags: un-laying a length of manila rope and laying a strand back up to make a circular grommet, then sewing this onto the top of the canvas bag to give it shape and strength: and introducing the art of roping a sail. Heaps of dolphins round the ship this morning, even some spinning dolphins!
SHIP’S WORK: Continue work on planking Karl, fit quarterdeck dutchmen, varnish chart house door. End-for-end main upper topsail halyard, continue Flemish horse overhaul, continue to slush standing rigging, ratlines, get a coat of primer on the windlass rocker, chip, prep and primer on windlass rocker stanchion, spot paint tropical blue on aloha deck and starboard breezeway, overhaul bunt blocks, and spot paint in the skiff and Monomoy.
TOWARDS: La Gomera, Canary Islands
TIME ZONE: GMT
NOON POSITION: 30°17.1’N /012°16.5’W
DAYS RUN: 141nm
PASSAGE LOG: 158nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 287nm
COURSE AND SPEED: SW (243°T)
WIND: Force 2, ExS
WEATHER: clear skies, air temp 72F (22°C), barometer reading 1028 millibars, visibility good
SWELL HEIGHT & DIRECTION: approx 1 foot, NW
SAILS SET: Everything set: square sails to the royals, inner jib, outer jib, main t’gallant staysail, fore and mizzen topmast staysails, and the spanker.