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American Spirit II - Day 381; Green Flash No. 29; We Catch 2 Fish; & a Great Afternoon/Evening of Sailing; Wednesday, January 21, 2015



Jeanine says she called me 5 times to get up at 5:50 AM, but to no avail. Left door to aft cabin open, so I woke up at 6:12 AM.

At 6:32 AM I relieved Jeanine. The wind is 13 knots and we're moving at 6.4 knots thru the water and 6.5 knots over the land. There is a low, solid overcast, with no stars visible. Really dark out.

At 7:30 AM the dawn is fast approaching. Lot of clouds visible now and a light rain is falling. The sky is a little clear behind us, and with the wind coming from behind I'm hopeful that the clouds will clear and it'll be sunny today.

At 9:00 AM the wind is still light at 9 knots, and we're motoring at 6.0 knots thru the water and 6.8 knots over the land. Still clearing; it might be a nice day.

During the 10:00 AM net Sandra from Sweet Pearl hosts it. Only 5 or 6 of us answer as most of the other boats are in already. Sweet Pearl is leaving the rally after St. Helena, sailing home back to Europe. Sandra's sweet voice will be missed. It was always a pleasure hearing her host the net.

Breakfast at 10:20 PM is scrambled eggs, cut up potato, chilled pear halves and brown bread.

At 11:00 AM the wind is 11/13 knots dead astern and we're moving at 5.9 knots thru the water and 6.6 knots over the land. Because the wind is directly astern, we'd have to jibe back and forth to sail without the motor on, wouldn't be able to lay the rumb line, and might get in too late to make the 7:00 PM party Thursday evening. So we just keep motoring.

Our noon position is 16 degrees, 54 minutes South; 3 degrees, 42 minutes East; and we're 125 miles from St. Helena.

At 12:35 PM we turn the water maker on for 2 hours.

At 12:01 PM I type one log; and at 1:20 PM I use the satellite phone to send and receive emails. One of the emails I send out is to the authorities in St. Helena, and I address health issues in the email, which is listed below, as directed by Rally Control:

*************************

Dear Sir/Madam:

I will be arriving around 10 AM on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from Cape Town.

My vessel is a 40 foot sailing vessel named American Spirit II; I am part of the World ARC 2014/15 Rally; and have three crew on board: Brian Fox, Captain/Owner; Joel Heyne, Crew; and Jeanine Miami, Crew.

Myself and all crew are in good health; myself and no crew are displaying Ebola like symptoms; neither myself nor any of the crew aboard have spent any time in Guinea, Sierra Leone or Liberia within the past 21 days or, in the last 21 days neither myself or any of the crew have had any personal contact with someone who has spent time in one of these countries; and neither myself or any of the crew have any flu-like symptoms.

I will contact harbor control on VHF Channel 14 or 16 prior to my arrival.

Brian Fox
American Spirit II

*************************

At 2:40 PM we turn the engine off; and go wing on wing; with the mainsail on the port side and the jib on the starboard. The wind is 18 knots and we're moving at 6.0 knots thru the water and 6.9 knots over the land. We're surfing on some waves at 8+ knots.

At 2:50 PM I use the satellite phone to send out responses to emails I received earlier.

Joel takes a nap at 3:30 PM until about 5:30 PM.

At 4:00 PM the wind is 13/15 knots and we're moving at 5.7 knots thru the water and 6.3 knots over the land. Its sunny, and the water is a beautiful blue.

Dinner at 6:00 PM consists of blackened chicken cooked on the propane grill by chef Joel; baked potato; and spicy green beans.

During dinner at 6:10 PM we catch a small Mahi Mahi, about 2 pounds. What I call a 'one meal fish.' Joel filleted the fish and I put it in the freezer as we're eating on land the next 3 nights.

At 6:40 PM I talk to St. Helena radio. At 95 miles away they can hear us. Wow! Of course, St. Helena is a volcanic island so I'm sure the radio antennae is at a high elevation. And VHF radio transmissions are line of sight.

Sandra from Sweet Pearl hosts the 7:00 PM net.

At 8:30 PM I fill out the St. Helena Customs and Immigration paperwork; and have Joel and Jeanine fill out one form themselves.

At 8:45 PM we catch another fish, a yellow fin tuna. Another small 'one meal fish,' but edible. The two fillets also go into the freezer. As Joel is filleting this fish the sun sets and we see another Green Flash, No. 29.

At 10:12 PM the wind is 13/16 knots and we're moving at 5.8 knots thru the water and 6.4 knots over the land. The stars are out in full force. Venus to the west is the first and brightest light in the sky. A beautiful, not cold night.

At 10:28 PM Jupiter, off the aft, starboard quarter, is 5 degrees above the horizon and so bright it reflects on the water. It is 20 times brighter than a regular star; and actually looks like a sailboat masthead light its so bright.

At 10:36 PM I take out the insert between the dodger and bimini so I can sit back and look up at the stars better. The Milky Way erupts out of the ocean aft and to the right of the boat, and shoots upward overhead. I spend some time sitting in the back of the cockpit with my legs draped over the back edge of the boat, looking at the water being lit up by the phosphoresces; and the Milky Way above.

At 11:45 PM the wind is 14/15 knots and we're moving at 5.8 knots thru the water and 6.1 knots over the land. It is 65 miles to St. Helena.

Joel relieves me at midnight.

Brian Fox



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