KLARA
Just before I got down to write this, Coyote was doing a good 8-9 knots downwind with the kite up, occasionally hitting up to 10-11 knots. She is very responsive and agile, and surfs really nicely on the waves, and the whole crew stares at the log and screams as she hits the highest numbers!
Yesterday was the first night watch with the kite up, amazing night! Black waters, just below 20 knots of wind, starry skies, a black kite lit up with deck lights, and invisible (but very real) waves. As if alone in the world, we were cruising through the night with the water frothing and roaring around the hull. Our demanding (in a good way!) skipper gave us a challenging 5 degree window to steer to. Standing bare feet at the steering wheel in the cockpit with every part of my body trying to follow and predict the waves and boat movements, at the same time giving full attention to the kite, the course and the wind direction, required the most concentration I have had to give up for years!... After 30 minutes each of helming, then fighting to take the kite down and stumbling around below deck packing it away, me and Peter decided we deserved a cookie.
Apart from sailing, our minds are occupied with more down to earth things. Water management (who the f*** left the tap on?..) cleaning the boat, emptying poo-paper bags and cooking (so far very good meals!) with the few ingredients we have available. Today is the first day with music, we have connected an Ipod to the radio and have now a soundtrack while surfing along towards St Lucia.
Checking out fresh bruises is also a new hobby; we fall on each other, step though open hatches on deck, stumble into things and hit our heads in the roof above the bunks. The theory is that with this way of changing our skin colour, working on a tan is totally unneary…
Klara
lkj