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
Doldrum-like conditions, though we’re still too far south to be in the doldrums proper. It’s hot and humid, and what wind there is is light and variable. Plenty of squalls all day have been bringing rain and wind shifts, or killing the wind altogether. Saw whales blow and breach off the starboard beam this morning,
The wind is getting lighter as we get closer to the equator, but we’re still moving, if slowly. Going to need the studdingsails soon. There has been the occasional rain squall, but none with much bite and the short, sudden downpours are handy to catch buckets of free fresh water for rinsing laundry. Our Sunday
