day two

Rally Start Photo

We are on the gerbil wheel! The gerbil wheel is a Two Fish sailing term describing the phenomenon of never changing arrival time. For the last 12 hours we have had 4 days to go. No one is complaining and some secretly wish this trip to last forever as the wind and waves have been kind. We have both the chute and the screecher flying in 12-13 knots and making 6 to 7 knots SOG. The current is contributing half a knot to our progress.

Gail’s banana bread day’s are numbered. Despite it have stayed in the oven 5 minutes too long it is darn tasty. Thanks for the recipe M/V Barefeet (formerly known as PDQ SV Barefeet). Gail has started 20,000 leagues under the sea and asking me odd questions with four letter answers so she must be doing the crossword puzzle. James and Jackie are fitting in quickly. Jackie was worried about night watches but seems to take to them like a jib to a furler. Tonight we will be flying our double headsail rig as long as the breeze does not shift more to the south. If it does go south we will roll up the screecher and raise the main and steer a 140 true wind angle course.

Sailing west makes easy sailing math. You are heading 270 and the wind is from 90. Big numbers (i.e. greater than 90) be on port jibe and small numbers (i.e. less than 90) be on starboard jibe. We are breaking the rule and taking the comfy but slower approach of DDW. I feel guilty saying it in public.

The SSB worked like a champ. We dialed into the daily call and heard almost everyone and they seemed to hear us. It is still rather mystical how it works, not the best user interface. It was great to hear from the other boats. Some caught yellow fin tuna, others abstained from any motoring, one break a gooseneck and many boasted of great breakfasts. We stuck to the facts of wind speed and sail plan. The boat leading the call did a brilliant job. Sound

Just read the marina in Colombia uses finger print scanners. Do I want them to have my finger prints?

Chute practice Pre-Start