At noon we are sailing along in nice winds, but surrounded by squalls. Took in royal in advance of a dark squall approaching from the starboard quarter. Yesterday afternoon winds laid down to nothing so we fired up the main engine and steamed through the night with a usable wind making up after dawn. Set …
At midday we find ourselves in light easterly winds. This morning around dawn we were overtaken by a large wet squall. Not overly powerful but it covered a large patch of ocean. Lots of rain and a 90 degree wind shift for a couple hours. Chief Mate Erin and her 4 to 8 watch did …
A fresh trade wind sailing day. Studding sails set again. On this blue water breezy day, we are making good westing towards the hump of Brazil, and we find ourselves surrounded by spinner dolphin. Work stops (don’t see much of this back on the farm), and the gang lines the rails to watch the antics …
A fresh trade wind sailing day. Winds picked up overnight. Studding sails taken in. Light rain squalls, not much. Steering for what I think is the narrowest part of the equatorial doldrums near the eastern bump of Brazil for a quick transit to the region of the equator. Make and mend Sunday. New gang working …
Day came in with low broken clouds and a beautiful sunrise. Winds had laid down overnight and a new swell had come from somewhere to the south to give us a roll. But deck wash down gets going anyway. Halyards and braces get a pull in the early morning light to renew the nip and …
Day came in with low broken clouds and a few light squalls. The cleared throughout the morning. “Land Ho” when we saw Ascension Island fine on starboard. Wore ship at noon to the port tack, about 5 and a half miles SE of Ascension Island. The gang barely looked up. Ascension Island was an important …
Day came in fair and partly cloudy. Classic trade wind sailing. Blue seas and skies everywhere. A couple of flying fish flew aboard last night to the delight of at least one cat. Nice varnish going on to various teak doors. Deyan is working up the main engine’s seventh cylinder air compressor. Dirk, Erin and …
Day came in partly cloudy and clearing. Wind picked up a bit. A beautiful trade winds day. The new royal yard almost done. New pin rails of Fijian tamanu wood getting varnished and are very pretty. Piles of canvas on the quarterdeck getting sewn together by Tyler and Katie under John’s oversight. Brahm and Aaron …
Day came in cloudy with small rain squalls. By noon had cleared with lovely blue skies. Sundry silly Aprils fools pranks about the ship. Wore ship again at mid-day. New Royal yard almost done, almost ready to send aloft and cross.. Shifting out the fore-upper topsail, send down for repairs. Has a couple small tears …
Day came in fair and partly cloudy. We are on the starboard tack to make some north-ing. We will wear around this afternoon to a more westerly course. Royal yard is almost shaped, awaiting yoke and ironwork. Sweet passage making today. Passage discussion to follow this afternoon. We have a long way to go but …
