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Testarossa - Life on a 30* Angle



Testarossa Daily Message: Life on a 30* Angle / 18-19 May 2016//

"If You're Not Living Life on the Edge - You're Taking Up Too Much Space!" Ole Naval Aviator's Adage

As of 1551L hours on 19 May 2016, our position is: 34*07.048'N / 57*33.103'W. We are steaming 093* COG making 8.1 Kts SOG, middle of the Atlantic, bound for the Azores. Are we there yet?

Quick Recap:
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Testarossa has made 339 total NM's since leaving Bermuda
Day 1 at sea: 150 NM's made
Day 2 at sea: 189 NM's made
Distance to go: 1457NM (Argh!)
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We have found the wind, and the wind has found us! So far, the wind has been good to us. In the past 24 hours, we have had our best run yet this voyage - 189 NM's made good. Winds remain at just over a steady 10Kts, with this morning’s breeze building to 14. Seas remain relatively benign, with 3-4' waves, and little ground swell. Boat speed has been kept up - averaging about 9-10 knots, with the most seen this morning at approx 0600L of 11.9 Kts (when we had 14 knots of breeze). We remain in a good relative position - North of our lay line, and are making a good course on average paralleling the lay line as we ride the front edge of a low pressure system. We continue to walk the tight rope between too much to the North, and not enough to the South. One ARC vessel, S/V White Chocolate (That name...kinda makes you hungry doesn't it? It's a Swiss boat - so you gotta wonder what kinda watches they keep aboard..wink emoticon, is running in our proximate vicinity, keeping the pace just south to us, and abeam our stern quarter.

So what does all this mean to us? We are living life large and on the edge. Make that a 30* tilt to port, which is good for some, not as good for others. Let me expound on this for a minute: The galley is on the port side - so good for cooking. The head - that's ship speak for bathroom for all the landlubbers out there reading this - is on the starboard (right side of the boat looking forward smile emoticon, which is good for taking showers, but tough for brushing your teeth. Also, you'd best hold onto the toilet seat - that goes for everyone! Everything has a tendency to slide / roll to the left - if left unattended or unanticipated. Doors left open seem to close rapidly and on their own. When sleeping - everyone rolls to the port. Luckily, we have our cabins rigged with "lay cloths" to prevent the would be drowsy sailor from rolling off the lower side of their bunk. In some cases - that could be too close for comfort!

But don't be mislead dear reader - for life is indeed good living on "the edge" aboard Testarossa. The thrill and exhilaration of the ship bounding forward, the salt spray flying, the breeze on your face, the foamy waves pushed aside, the sounds of the wake streaming past as we make our way thru the water. Ahhhh sailing - this is what we wanted to do, and this is what we are doing! Tis the life!

A couple of interesting spectacles we observed yesterday: the first was a Man o' War floating by. Actually, make that dozens and dozens of them! A whole field of them floating by and by. I know there is a tourist out there on some future beach with their name on one of them Man O' Wars. Careful folks - they sting! Also, we have seen a lot of great sea birds, and a lot of jumping fish in the distance. Really would have liked to have been fishing through that feeding frenzy!

Dinner last night was the remains of our 2 Tuna's - great to the last bite, and wild rice. A lot of good humor and great conversation during dinner time included. Looks like we will have to recommence fishing - hint hint!

The day pasted us by quickly, seemingly keeping apace with the foamy waves scurrying quickly by. On the night watch, Captain George and Diamond Dave had the first watch to midnight, Babalou & Felipe, the closers - midnight to 0700. A near full moon shown eerily through wind swept low clouds moving rapidly past. The setting moon made for a dark night at the end, just before sunrise, which eventually happened to grey skies all around. Freshening breeze meant an increase in speed as the day broke. Ms. Lorrie came up early to spell us, after getting the generator going, and flushing our holding tank. BTW - you don't want to be drinking your coffee when that occurs - just sayinnnnn! Re-rack for the night shift resulted in a pleasant wake-up to the smells of pancakes and bacon!

Light-hearted day aboard with everyone doing their thing: Babalou finished up the "Hunt for Red October;" Lorrie is still chopping away on "The Religion;" David is reading "The Dove;" the Capitano got a good work-out in in the cockpit; while Felipe was today's guest DJ. The Soviet national anthem was played aboard in honor of Bob's completion of the Hunt for Red October - great music, but lousy politics!

And that's the last 24 hours in a nutshell Folks....

Personal Messages from the Captain & Crew:
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Captain George - Good Bicep and back workout. We have settled in to a good pace for the next 1400 miles. Missing you! Wink wink!!
Ms. Lorrie - Napping - Could not be reached for comment.
Babalou - Jean - Everything is going well - we are having a great sail! Miss you...and from the shower - loveee you!
Felipe - 4 CJ - Drive safe going home Baby! Thinking of you! xxx! ps - How are your "projects" coming along? St. David - Napping - Could not be reached for comment. NOOO, just woke up... BEX! hope you and Will are well, do you really have a puppy?? Franny - you can send a message to Stephany, check that email from Lorrie, there is a SVTestarossa email address in there and she can forward it to us. Spent the day trying to learn more about Celestial Navigation - its confusing! Dp xxx
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Song of the Day: Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, by Lavay Smith & Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers

Okay thats all for today, we'll leave a light on for you tonight - a running light...and will check back in Manana! In the meantime,

Cheers to All, and to All - The Best,

Testarossa Sends,
USA 143



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