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Pajarito - Day 9 - Big Waves



Big winds bring big waves. And boy do we have both. We've been sailing in big winds, 25-35 kn, for the past 24 hours. So, we're seeing the sea build some big waves, about 10 feet, mostly on our port quarter, but some on our beam. It's a little intimidating seeing these big waves coming at us. I keep hoping we'll continue to rise up and over them (rather than the reverse). So far so good. 

Our speed could be better. We're only making about 5.5 kn average. Every time we try to put up more sail, we get hit with a blast of wind, and we need to reduce sail. Or, we encounter one of the many squalls surrounding us, and need to reduce sail. Captain Bill hasn't had much rest the past two days. So, we opted to stick with reduced sail for awhile so that we don't have to continually change sail and he can get some rest.

This doesn't help Bob's predicament any. Bob would very much like to make it home for Thanksgiving. If we can't make an average speed of 6.5 kn, he won't be able to catch his plan on Monday.

We'll be checking the wind/wave analysis this afternoon to see if we can look forward to moderating winds so that we can, indeed, raise some more sail and get going.

The boat is going through every conceivable motion, all at the same time. We're being pushed forward by the wind, sideways by the swell, and up and down and back and forward by the waves. Needless to say, none of us has much appetite for the delicious food our extended crew, Susan, sent with us. Dinner for me last night was a bowl of Cheerios, light on the milk. Captain Bill has an iron stomach so he ate some carrots and pastrami. Bob made himself a bowl of oatmeal, then decided not to eat it.

Tonight we're going to try the sausage and bean soup. Soup may be just what the doctor ordered.

Well, I hear another squall coming and see we're making 7 kn suddenly, so here we go.

Yours slowly but surely creeping toward the finish line,

- the Pajarito crew, Captain Bill, Bob, and Deidre

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