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Comocean - New Shades of Green



Our auspicious start from Bermuda left Norm at the helm and Toby reviewing Comocean safety procedures. The major storm front, having just crossed St.George's Club, had created seas coming out of the harbor and on the Atlantic, that looked a lot like the view I had last seen looking at the upright washer in the hotels laundry. That, combined with looking at the laminated cards I use for my briefing, had some of the crew looking about the shade of the last Mahi Mahi we caught headed to the BVI's. It's a beautiful green, not made for humans. I must admit, the combination of Joanne's electronic watches (which no one believed really worked), a seasickness patch, and sleep, has the crew in great form.

This morning, Ed has worked diligently to to help me learn to operate the sextant I had purchased to qualify for the Caribbean 1500 ("alternative means of navigation required". In as much as I already have two boat GPS, two handheld GPS, a VHF with GPS coordinates, a full set of charts, and the knowledge that almost every guest or crew brings their own handheld, the sextant seemed a little overkill. As it was required, I will admit I bought the second cheapest West Marine offered. Ed, who teaches sextant operation, is a USCG graduate and seems too actually enjoy taking sights, was less than complimentary of my plastic, fantastic, cheap, Chinese sextant. That said, he looked at me and boldly told me, "I can make it work". My first readings of a noon sun left us 10degrees latitude south of where we really are, but I understand the concept. All I now need is a current Almanac, computer program and a better sextant and, when the crew and I jump into the the life raft, we will be all set.

Last night we rock and rolled enough to make dinner, noodles and pasta (Ragu). This had been prepared back at the hotel by Sue and Joanne. What a treat, actually unworthy of a jar of Ragu. HAPPY MOTHERS day ladies. I love you Joanne!... While it went down slowly in the extreme chop, it was really appreciated!

We have been holding nightly SSB calls with Surprise, our buddy ship for this leg. They have information they receive nightly from Commanders on weather and best places to enter and exit the Gulf Stream. With that, and the information I received on weather from Seth last night, we modified our rumb line and anticipated course.We are now sailing, and occasionally motoring, through wonderfully calm seas at about seven knots. Thanks to Dennis on Trillium, who also has a Gori prop, I have learned how tto engage overdrive on the folding prop, making 7 knots under motor sail even possible.

My first, in transit opportunity to test my learnings came last night during my shift when the winds dropped to 3 knots. I incredible darkness, I slowwed the boat, reversed the engine and used the sea to force open the blades from 35 degrees to 50 degrees (more power), and then shifted into forward with reasonably high speed. Coming out of reverse, I realized I had no earthly idea where I was as far as a heading. I quickly started chasing my GPS readings on the wall of the cabin entrance. Let me inform you, THIS DOES NOT WORK. It's like chasing your tail. The GPS is a delayed reading. as you chase the lower number, you keep going in a circle. While, after two Gibes, two, tacks and a little luck, I was back on course.


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