We have been pretty much sailing since noon yesterday. We had a few hours, beginning just before my night watch, where we motor-sailed. The wind had died, just before beddie time for Ralph, so we put the motor on. Shortly thereafter, it of course picked up...but I didn't want to put the headsail out and the motor off as it would have disturbed Ralph's sleep. Also, if shzt happens and the headsail has to come in, I can't do it alone so would have to wake Ralph. So, sometimes it's better to just leave well enough alone, I've learned. We have been trying to maintain a slower speed as we are going to arrive in Bahia de Caraquez earlier than the high tide needed for entry. If we have to mill about outside the entrance, and it's rolly, it could be even more uncomfortable than out here. We should be there around 4:30 pm Ecuador time.
There has been no current, of more than .5 knt, against us so far. I guess we've been lucky or it's still to come. We are seeing more freighter traffic now, those coming and going through the canal. We had at least 2 days with NOTHING on our radar screen. You start to wonder if it's still working??!!
We hoped to cross the equator during daylight...you know, so we could take a picture of that yellow line (or whatever colour it is). Unfortunately, it looks to be more likely after dark because we have slowed down to accommodate our arrival time. We still have to decide what we are offering Neptune, and Ralph wants to make some goofy crowns or whatever the rituals are. He's saying something about someone going over the side and into the water. I had my shark encounter, it won't be me!!
Right now, it is very lumpy with 20+ knt winds and 6 to 8 foot swells with wind wave on top...suffice to say, I've had a better time. It was relatively calm, for Ralph's sleep shift but, of course, during mine the crappy seas came to visit!
Fortuitous is handling everything very well, only the crew is having second thoughts. It's been a valuable learning experience for us. We've discovered which cupboards don't stay closed, that we need to re-adapt our sea berth, that buying BBQ chickens, and freezing them, ahead of time is a great idea, that zincofax works well for "boat butt/diaper rash" (when I open the jar, memories of diapering Jeff and Greg come wafting back) , and that you need to nap whenever you can as when it's your turn to sleep, you can't count on being able to do so.
Doesn't it look like I'm having a swell time?
Appears to be nothing in the way of waves...photos just don't do it justice!
As of 8 am this morning:
Lat: 00 42 North
Long: 081 11 West
Distance made good: 76 nm
Distance remaining: approx. 85 nm
No comments:
Post a Comment