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American Spirit II - Day 427; Not a Great Sailing Day, but it Could be Worse; Monday, March 9, 2015



One year ago today:

"Day 65; Flying Fish , Birds , First Green Flash & Over 1/3 Way There; Sunday, March 9, 2014. At 1:00 AM we passed the 1,000 nautical mile mark on this leg. With the entire leg being 2,980 miles, we're over 1/3 of the way from the Galapagos to the Marquesas Islands."

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I relieved Heidi a little early today, at 5:40 AM. Heidi says she's really tired this morning. The wind is blowing 24 knots.

At 6:09 AM the wind is 16 knots and we're sailing at 5.1 knots thru the water and 5.5 knots over the land. And I can see a few small patches of blue sky. But mainly I see gray and black low fast moving clouds. The gray and black clouds are under higher, white, wispy white clouds. I'm wearing my foul weather pants with suspenders and a short sleeved non-cotton shirt.

At 6:59 AM the wind is 18 knots and we're sailing at 6.0 knots thru the water and 6.1 knots over the land. I see more blue sky to windward. But its still very cloudy behind us. And the boat is rocking and rolling...a lot.

At 8:00 AM tbe wind is 20 knots and we're sailing at 6.4 knots thru the water and 6.6 knots over the land. The sun is visible, but its 25% patches of blue sky and 75% lousy looking clouds.

At 8:20 AM I take off my foul weather pants as the sun is cooking me. Being on or near the equator does that to you. Now its 50% blue sky and 50% clouds.

At 8:42 AM I let more jib out to the 1st reef point; and take 1/2 reef out of the main.

At 9:06 AM the wind is 16 knots and we're sailing at 6.1 knots thru the water and 6.6 knots over the land.

Joel hosts the 10:00 AM net, with Civetta II, Chicka-lu, Boingo Alive and Festina Lente answering. Chicka-lu says a GRIB file says 25 knot winds are coming this afternoon. I can't wait.

Breakfast at 10:20 AM consists of eggs, sausage disguised as hamburger patties, potato, and chilled pineapple slices.

At 10:30 AM I put the Mahi Mahi that we had in the refrigerator into six separate ziplock bags into the freezer. The weather today will be too rough and windy to cook on the propane grill on the transom.

Our noon position is 2 degrees, 54 minutes north; 46 degrees, 9 minutes West; and we're 1,075 miles from Grenada. Since noon yesterday we've traveled 152 miles at an average speed of 6.3 knots. Earlier today we crossed 45 degrees of West longitude. Normally that would require a time change of one hour, as every 15 degrees of longitude, or 900 miles, is a different time zone. But when doing a leg, we keep using he same time that we start with. That way boats in different time zones will still be on the same time for net communications.

I type a log from 12:45 PM to 2:08 PM. And then at 2:15 PM Joel and I send the log and some emails out using the satellite phone. The satellite phone is connected to the navigation computer with a 5 foot USB cord. Joel stands in the cockpit at the top of the stairs holding the phone while I use the computer down below to activate the call and send and receive the emails.

Joel naps at 2:50 PM. Heidi is already napping.

At 2:55 PM the wind is 18 knots and we're sailing at 6.9 knots thru the water and 8.1 knots over the land.

At 3:25 PM I roll in a couple of feet more jib and the mainsail a foot to the second reef. A big line of white billowing clouds to windward look menacing.

At 3:30 PM the leading edge of the storm cell looks like its going to hit the boat. The wind jumps from 18 to 25 knots. Isn't this fun?! Joel and I roll the jib up, leaving about 1/3 still out; and put a 2nd reef in the mainsail.

Heidi is up from her nap at 4:05 PM. I nap from 4:20 PM to 5:15 PM.

To make it easier for me to cook dinner, Joel rolls in the jib a little bit more. Dinner at 5:40 PM is freeze dried Beef Teriyaki; left over mashed potatoes, rice, 4 bean mix, breakfast potatoes and sausage; and chilled mangoes. I'm ecstatic at getting rid of all the leftovers as I free up a lot of tupperware containers.

At 6:19 PM the wind is 21 knots and we're sailing at 5.7 knots thru the water and 6.6 knots over the land.

The sun sets at 6:15 PM. Clouds, so no green flash.

Heidi goes to bed at 6:30 PM after doing the dishes. She'll be up again at 3:00 AM for her watch.

I host the 7:00 PM net; and the only boat I can hear clearly enough to understand is Civetta II. I can hear Boingo Alive and Chicka-lu, not well enough to understand what they're saying. They must be too far ahead of us.

I nap from 7:15 PM to 8:34 PM, but I don't sleep at all.

At 8:50 PM the wind is 21 knots and we're sailing at 5.6 knots thru the water and 6.9 knots over the land. The wind has been averaging between 17-25 knots.

At 9:31 PM I can see a slice of he moon sticking out from a black cloud. Its a waning moon about 3/4 full.

At 9:59 PM the wind is 20 knots and we're sailing at 5.5 knots thru the water and 7.7 knots over the land. Still a lot of rock and roll. Somewhat unnerving. I see a lot of low dark clouds.

At 10:20 PM a BIG black cloud, with winds of 23-25 knots, hits us; laying the boat over to 30 degrees. 35 minutes later its still blowing 23-25 knots. The wind is howling in our rigging and its very, very dark out with all the black clouds flying around.

At 11:00 PM the wind is 22 knots and we're sailing at 5.9 knots thru the water and 7.6 knots over the land.

At 11:04 PM a dark medium size bird is flying and trying to land on a stanchion on the transom. Comes and goes multiple times. During Joel's midnight watch the bird is successful.

Stars are visible overhead and in front of us at 11:34 PM. Wow! Just when my watch is over. The wind is still averaging 18-23 knots.

Brian Fox

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