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Sialia



What a difference a day makes!

Shortly after I sent yesterday’s blog entry I went for a nap. I woke up to find 15 knots of wind on a broad reach. It was sunny, not a cloud in the sky and the ocean was that aquamarine blue you only ever find in post cards and photoshoped pictures. 

All hands, on duty and off, were in the cockpit soaking it up so we decided to go find the jenniker and see what we could do with it.

Wow.

Just Wow!

We got it rigged and then pulled the snuffer. It is a crispy new North Sails red, yellow and blue…. And its just got the nicest shape. It exceeded our expectations in just about every arena. We flew it for almost two hours – curling and trimming – the whole crew smiling and listening to the surf. Then the wind crept closer to 20 and we decided we liked it too much to see it hurt. I went forward to take it down and again, North far exceeded expectations. If I win the lotto, there is a carbon snuffer in my future. Seriously, one person can take it down alone, no problem.

Several times while it was up I wished that Ian McGlashan was nearby. Ian makes movies about much bigger boats but there is very little to compete with a bright red Hinckley and a very bright new jenniker on the aquamarine blue ocean where the Caribbean begins. It would have made a great promo shot for both North and Hinckley yesterday. And it was just so so much fun. 

We all wished MaryAnn had been here. It was so beautiful and we know she would have enjoyed it very much.

The wind continued to build and build until about dinner time (6:30) we had sustained 30 knots. This boat is remarkably comfortable in 30 knots. Then it built and built… and…. As the hours grew so did the seas. We spent all night in 35 knots with building seas and squalls popping up every now and again with 40-43 knots for 10-20 minutes at a time.

The boat never wavered. We reefed the main once, then twice and then a third time. The jib went from #2, to #3 to #4. The winds have finally started to abate and we are now in 30 with only the occasional gust to 35. The seas are a more reasonable 8-10 ft swells. 

We have been able to use it well and are now just about 350 nautical miles from Nanny Cay. Everyone is doing their best to ensure that we trim for speed, while still being ablet o control the boat and point as close to 168 degrees as we are able.

Alain says he’s been doing wind dances and that is what brought us this and that he’ll refine his technique when he tries again later today.

We’ve all certainly had a workout in the last 24 hours. 

Bill stayed up through the worst of it and drove himself. It was a fairly arduous task not because the boat was hard to handle but because he was doused with sray and water so often. Every now and again a sizable wave catches us by surprise in the dark. Dark it was last night. But as inky as the sky and sea were, we had stars of a different sort- the phosphorescence was dazzling. 

While we are sprayed quite often its most welcome. The air is warm and the water 88.5F so while we do get wet, its not unpleasant at all.

While we are definitely rocking and rolling, Sialia continues to be her usual rock solid self. There isn’t a thing that is leaking or squeaking or rattling loose despite the punishment she’s taking. And she continues to slice through the waves like the red rocket that she is. 

Well I am actually on duty right now and turned on the Auto Helm while I hide under the dodger to send this off. The wind is piping up again. I’ll have to ask my watch mate and sail trim whiz, Amy, for ideas on what do to next.

See you soon!

Paula

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