Blue Moon - day 10 blog blue moon

Our evening starts with an unexpected salty face wash… „DO NOT OPEN AT SEA“ says the sticker on the hatch of our port aft cabin. Katleen and I clean up the salty splashes laughing - it was a well deserved kiss from the ocean, as we had our hatch open on purpose, gasping for air so down south.
The night bring us more water, from below and also for above - each watch gets to experience their first squalls - sudden strong winds up to 34 knots and massive rain, that lasts 10 minutes. Squalls and gusts and waves come in well timed, as following a schedule, so each one of us can enjoy a full set of the Atlantic. Blue Moon did not come here to give up, and keeps a nice speed of 7 knots even with a third reef in. We sleep with one eye open - ready to jump up on deck for each other.
In the morning we are gathering stories from the last night and enjoying new landscape - overcast sky. Chatting away while having a late breakfast, doing daily jobs and sailing some impressive 5m waves. When all of a sudden I see a white hissing wall rising on the port side, and there is nothing I can do, except screaming from the top of my lungs - WAVE! Hoping that whoever is on deck can hold on, and whoever below - catch the flying pans. I clunch to the wheel for both - to keep the boat on course and to keep myself on the boat, and instinctively try to hide behind it… as if!! I see the wave coming over Wayne`s head, and bubbling water filling the cockpit in a split on a second. I try to assess the damage - Wayne is wet, but here, I am wet, but also here, even all deck cushions are here. And I breathe out, only to see the grim face of the skipper, staring at me from the companionway. Two words - opened hatch. Galley and saloon are flooded with salt water - from the stove all the way to the couch, bilges, lockers, clothes, sleeping bags, food storage, fruit nets and the nav table. All hands below deck drying the food and furniture, while I am helming surrounded by one hundred and one cushion of Blue Moon`s couch and praying that was the only southern surprise. For today.
Wet salty hugs, Margo