18 March 2010
And so it would seem but there are small and very subtle changes. As we draw westwards sunsets are later in the day, consequently so is sunrise. Our meal and watch keeping times change accordingly. The arc of the Southern Cross creeps a little higher with each night that passes. Lady Ev IV has been on our tail now for two days and nights. Sometimes they edge a little closer to close the gap, then we pull ahead again. It is as if we are joined by a length of elastic. We chat on the VHF every day with Christos. He complains of the rolling. The wind on the port stern quarter does to a degree create a cross sea but we roll very little in the swells. The fact that we have 1000litres of water capacity contained in the keel, helps enormously to keep Voyageur stable. So does her heavy winged keel. The galley stays level. It makes cooking at sea a pleasure instead of a chore. Even my toaster sits happily on the counter top without moving. Our own daily routine of life at sea continues as before. Day after day of steady south east trade winds, only increasing at night when darker clouds pass overhead. A few turns in the roller reefing headsail is all that is required. Day after sunny day we relax, reading, dozing under the cockpit bimini, enjoying being on the ocean just for the sake of it. There is nothing new under the stars either, but the show that they put on for us continues to mesmerise and enthral, night after Pacific night.....
Susan Mackay