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Agua Dulce - Green Flash and Glassy Seas...Until now



Two nights I saw something for the first time - the GREEN FLASH! It is real for all you doubters out there, like I once was. All four of us saw it - it was completely emerald green right as the sun went below the horizon for about a second. I tried to capture the sunset on my camera, but sadly, you can't see the flash. The boys on S/V Tara saw it too - and no one had anything to drink stronger than Coca Cola!

Until today, we've had amazing glassy seas which make for gorgeous sunsets reflecting over the still water. BUT, they are noisy sunsets as the motor drones on and on and on in the background. We've been heading NE so that when the winds pick up - they have now! - and we approach the coast of Portugal, we'll be in place for a nice beam reach in NE winds down to Lagos. We'll also have the current from the north that will be pushing us southward. That said, this morning, the winds did indeed pick up - anywhere between 15-20 knots out of the NE. Hallelujah, we are sailing! But the seas are very lumpy and bumpy which makes for a wild and wooly ride. I'll be sitting calmly reading my book on the settee, when all of a sudden my rear is no longer touching the cushion and I am airborne for a couple of seconds. In times like these, I like to surround myself with soft things, because I am going to get thrown against them at some point. Let me just say that using the toilet is challenging to say the least.

Yesterday was haircut day for half the crew. Jim trimmed his own, and I cut Charles' outside on deck. We're just calling Bill Shaggy right now. Actually, I think Charles and Jim are just jealous!

Still no fish. But we saw the itty-bittiest teeny-weeniest Portuguese Man O War ever. They were no bigger than candy wrappers floating on the water with little one inch sails. My theory is that they are "birthed" in Portugal (hence the name) and grow as they sail on their way over to the coast of the US where they are big clear balloons with long deadly blue tentacles trailing behind them. But, that's just my theory. I guess I'll have to google that when I have an internet connection again someday.

Less than 350nm to the finish line! Get the Vinho Verde chilled!

Gretchen Cunningham
S/V Agua Dulce




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