The wind has eased off and faired a little so the Captain ordered more sail set: we rigged the studdingsail gear and set the topmast studdingsail, and then the sailmakers finished stitching making the new gaff topsail so we bent and set that too. It’s satisfying watching the genesis of a new sail from rolls of canvas to finally flying aloft – this one was first laid out and seamed up in a hotel ball room on the tiny mid-Atlantic island of St Helena.
SHIP’S WORK: Rig and set topmast studdingsail to starboard; complete, rig and set gaff topsail; sand and varnish t’gallant studdingsail boom; varnish (2 x coats) on the port quarterdeck box lid.
FROM: Marigot, St Martin
TOWARDS: St George, Bermuda
TIME ZONE: ZD+4
NOON POSITION: 21°59.5’N /063°42.1’W
DAYS RUN: 120nm
PASSAGE LOG: 561nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 625nm
COURSE AND SPEED: North by East (CMGT 000°T)
WIND: Force 4, East by South
WEATHER: 4/8 cloud cover (cumulus, cirrus), air temp 80F (27°C), barometer reading 1022 millibars, visibility excellent
SWELL HEIGHT & DIRECTION: approx 4 feet, East by South
SAILS SET: Square sails to the royals, fore, main and mizzen topmast staysails and inner jib, spanker, gaff topsail and topmast st’n’s’l braced up half way to sharp on a starboard tack.