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 of control. I’m happy in the 3.5-4.5 knot range, but I’ll take it. James may not be thrilled when he gets up, but the forecast has the wind dropping from now until sunrise.
Thursday, July 4
Dena’s 0300-0600 watch
Seven shooting stars! The last one crossed the zenith as a big fireball. Amazing. The others were quick streaks, none longer than my hand’s length with my arm extended. Still very satisfying entertainment on a moonless ocean passage night watch.
Dena’s 1100-1200 watch
James woke me for my 0900-1000 watch and took a video of the process. Beluga Greyfinger is a good cuddler. It reminds me of last summer, crossing from Bermuda to the Azores, with a kitty who both needed and provided comfort.
Conditions aren’t that bad yet. Making coffee is already a gymnastic feat (thanks, James!) with the wind almost directly behind. There’s a cheeky swell that comes along every few minutes and sends us rocking. There’s no way to leave anything sitting on the counter because we heel farther to port on the front of it but go past upright and tip starboard on its back side.
Oh well.
The monitor is working better than before the rebuild but the pendulum strut still resists swinging port. I got my eye on the frame just right and realized that the whole thing is installed a little to starboard. We’ll mess with the adjustable lower legs when we’re safe in a quiet anchorage.
Noon position: N 27° 02.421’ W 014° 53.035’
Distance noon to noon: 97.6 NM
Average speed: 4.03 kn
Trip distance covered: 97.6 NM
Distance to destination: 876.9 NM
