Now we are talking !!!! Blue water, long swells, persistent trade winds and sun ! Just as in the brochure ;-)
After clocking yesterday in excess of 200 miles (a good day would be anything above 150) today has been a different and easier day. I was up "refreshed" after a 3 hour sleep this morning. Managed to brew some coffee and life seemed better after two cups of coffee ;-) We then took the noon-6pm shift. Long session under the sun... suncream on several times and lots of water. Today wins have been calmer around 15-20 Knots and Northern Child was sailing at 8-12 Knots for most of the day/night. The time I had at the helm shift was great. She is a great boat to steer. Apparently we are doing well in terms of position with respect to the pack. We think we are part of the leading group and have been all afternoon catching up a boat and being pursued by two. Fun ! Lots of sail and pole rigging today to find the right configuration which has seen us do more sport than anyone wanted including several manual lifting of two genoas at the same time on the same hailyard and whilst on a downwind run!!! That was heavy and I have now the swollen fingers to show for it. Great dinner (Fish pie and boiled vegetable), a quick taster of wine with the crew to celebrate the first 24 hours and a little siesta before doing the 10pm - 2am shift. Lots of moonlight, calmer see and somewhat warmer than last night. I continue to wrestle with the galley and the head and have minor bruises to show for it. That said, I think in a matter of a couple of days I will be able to sleep sat in any corner of the boat and do balance exercises on deck... I might even attempt to put in my contact lense. It might be "Atlantic intoxication" but even the boat seems bigger than it was when we left Las Palmas and with plenty of space to move about. I have always loved technology and been a gadget man but it was so cooooooooooool to get a phone call from Sarah and the girls on the sat phone... Even getting some sort of text exchanges on a rudimentary phone appears cool out here The only thing that I find strange is being so dettached from "normal": we dont have news to read, no idea what stocks do, what the markets are doing, no idea of developments around the world, no access to Gmail, no twitter, no access to Facebook, just a primitive system to remotely post this blog. I might have to call someone on Saturday to find out about the football results.... like in the old days ;-) But I dont care. The ocean looks great just now, blue with bright sunshine, only the noise of the waves (and some of the crew snoring-monsters) We are well and those suffering from sea sickness are coming around. Signingg off and back to sleep another couple of hours. Here is where my plane/jetylag training comes handy ;-)