Wednesday, July 3 Dena’s 1500-1600 watch The anchor came up clean except the catenary, which doesn’t reach the bottom. That part had small hard growth just like the hull. We’re going to have fun scrubbing the boat once we’re back at anchor in warmer water. We were underway just before noon so our daily numbers will be a tiny bit skewed. Oh well, we were ready to get the hell out of the Canaries! The islands are behind us now but quite visible still. I’m going to stop and take a picture to make sure I don’t forget. James’ 1800-1900 watch I just got a picture of Beluga Greyfinger chilling with me on the port settee. He came out of the bunk so fast this time! Makes sense, with gentle wind and waves. We started out doing 4+ knots, downwind under main only, but the wind settled as we came south of Fuertaventura. These islands cast long wind-shadows sometimes, and the waters between them are called acceleration zones, not for nothing. Dena’s 2100-2400 watch No nap before my first night watch, but I slept in this morning. I’m sure I’ll be ready to sleep by midnight! We’ve had two dolphin visits already, but they weren’t all about playing on our bow wave. They were making whirlpools (herding fish, I suppose) and jumping straight out of the water one at a time within the swirl. What a world! The wind picked up on James’ last watch and then even more over the first 15 minutes of mine. I may pull the second reef before full dark…the moon is at 7% and waning, so not much help there. It’s now 2300 and I’m glad I didn’t reef deeper. We’re doing 6 knots now and then but it feels good, not nearly out[…]
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