3 December 2012
Last night for the first time we sailed with all three sails up. No new tears in the main sail, the genoa - we need to repair, we just didn't unfurl it all the way, and the staysail is fine. We watched a movie last night - "Abe Lincoln - Vampire Slayer" I will withhold my comments on this movie, ask me about it when I get home about it. I cannot wait to share my thoughts about this film with Dr. Richard Sommers, from the U S Army War College, the most respected living authority of the American Civil War and President Lincoln.
The seas remain rather choppy, this is a more difficult crossing than last year. A number of other boats are experiencing breakdowns such as ourselves. Some 7 to 8 boats have dropped out of the race due to mechanical
difficulties. This morning our first whale was sited. No one is sure what kind, Andy and I believe it was a pilot whale- good size he came right at us to explore - then about 15 to 20 feet away he dove right under our stern -
it got our hearts pumping early in the morning. We've been good time under sail averaging over 9 knots, we've traveled over 1,000 miles - so we are one third complete.
Cheers!