We wore ship from port to starboard tack yesterday, and now we’re making more westing and skirting the equator – the line was just 22 nautical miles to our north at noon and the pollywogs are getting nervous. SHIPS WORK: Work on the cap stay continues, spot painted buff aft and varnish on the main …
Dolphins came to play in the bow wave today, maybe 15 of them including a tiny baby, they stayed for a good half hour rolling over each other and leaping and diving before gambolling off to port. SHIPS WORK: Service on the lower end of new cap stay, two coats of varnish on new fore …
Studdingsail Tradewind Dawn We came up on the quarterdeck this morning for watch at 0400 to find the ship sailing along easily under studding sails on a big moon, shimmering sea night. A warm easterly trade wind was blowing softly over the starboard quarter. Yards are braced ahead from square a point or so. The …
Saw a big mahi mahi jump several feet out of the water today, just off the port beam – it looked like it was being chased by dolphins. Nothing on the fishing lines though, maybe we’re not going fast enough to be tempting. We seem to be past the worst of the squalls now, and …
Sunday at sea. More squalls, alternating beautiful sunshine and heavy, soaked-to-the-underwear showers. Amy and Turi organised a games afternoon in the salon before supper with popcorn – pictionary, backgammon and a very silly pirate card game were the most popular. SHIPS WORK: No ship’s work today, but lots of sail handling and bracing for the …
Sunshine and squalls all day today. Heavy, tropical rain in the squalls – enough for a fresh-water shampoo and rinse, but more importantly some of the squalls bring wind shifts and gusts – the crew need to be snappy at taking in the light-air sails, and bracing around while the helmsman bears away to keep …
Another fine day of trade wind sailing. A sea bird came to hang out on the aloha deck rail today – from the bird book I think was a noddy. And a very happy birthday to Mark B, who celebrated his 50th onboard today – Elvira made a great cake for the occasion. SHIPS WORK: …
Perfect weather so the Captain held a dinner last night for a handful of invited crew – it’s nice to get dressed up and eat at a table once in a while. Donald made a wonderful supper of steak, wedges, coleslaw and broccoli. SHIPS WORK: Fairing royal yard and attaching the hardware today. Varnish on …
The trade winds gradually filled in again overnight and have been gradually building to a pleasant force four breeze – it’s good to be moving again! SHIPS WORK: Fairing the royal yard, varnished the port pin rail, spot grey paint in Monomoy, replaced flying jib downhaul block. Sailmakers continue to work on several different sails, …
Still hardly any wind and bright sunshine, but it’s cooler today and less sticky than yesterday. We saw a school of tuna underneath the jibboom today, and a couple of sea birds circling the ship, much to the interest of the cats. SHIPS WORK: Rigged and set the lower, topmast and t’gallant studdingsails on the …
