Yesterday afternoon, we set the Mizzen Staysail, and it has been giving us an extra knot of speed ever since. I'd been fretting for some time. Our Rhumb-Line course puts the wind almost directly behind us, which is not only uncomfortably and rolly, but also rather slow. So although we've had the Genoa polled-out, we've been zig-zagging down the line, between two imaginary lines drawn at 5 degrees either side of our Rhumb-Line course. And since the weather has been unsettled with plenty of squall activity, I have been hesitant about letting out too many reefs, and hesitant about using anything but our plain sails. But yesterday's was a lovely morning with clear skies and a bit of fluffy cloud and enough wind to keep up a reasonable progress. By the afternoon, perhaps emboldened by a visit to Norfy's favorite Red Lion, or perhaps because we had got bored enough, we shook out the last reef in the mainsail, flying it full for the first time since leaving St Lucia, and hoisted the Mizzen Staysail. This instantly added a knot to our speed, and we have kept it at the mast-head ever since.
And this is where being a Ketch counts. Those of you who have seen Cleon's Flyer (pamphlet) will have seen this magnificent beast at least on paper. It's as big as the mainsail, brightly coloured (red white and blue stripes) and shaped like a Genoa but flow sideways. So it has a long foot and leech, and a short luff. It is tacked just aft of the mainmast on the windward side of the boat, and flies across the boat at the head (naturally) of the Mizzen Mast. Its sheet leads to the end of the Mizzen Boom. This sail is not only big and beautiful to behold, but also it is very easy to handle, and, since it flies in the middle of the boat, the effort from it is just where you want it. A single man or woman can raise or lower it in a trice, stuffing it out of the way down the main hatch, where it is easily bagged. And if there is no time for that, releasing the sheet instantly depowers it, and it nestles cozily in the mainsail till you've a quiet moment to take it down.
I am glad I am not a sloop.
Apart from that, sad news that no further survivors have been picked up from the wreck, and one of our number has put into Aruba with complete power failure - engine, generator, everything. For us, big ships in the night - Norfy frightened a cruise liner by keeping up with it for nearly three hours, Elizabeth shook her fist vainly as cargo vessels crossed and recrossed our path, and James had a peaceful and quiet night-watch after throwing some chicken and vegetables into a pan and serving it with rice, which - just - passed muster as our latest evening meal. Mutton from Montreal (or similar) to look forward to tonight. And a day's run of 154 miles leaves us just over half-way to Panama as I write - we have almost rounded the "corner" of the Guajira Peninsular.
Best wishes from us all,
James, Chris and Elizabeth
Yacht CLEONE
12.49N 70.43W