Friday, November 15
This trip has been really different from going over the Bahama Bank to Bermuda and then the Azores. We left kinda late and summer storms marched in discrete cells across the Horse Latitudes and above. The slow motion apocalypse of deciding whether to dodge storms and trying to predict their path was its own kind of tiring.
The wind and waves have varied but not all that much. We left the northeasterlies for the east-northeasterlies and that’s what we’ve had ever since, mostly in the 10-12 range, up to 15-17 in the early afternoon, and back down after dark. Each day, our first few hours’ average speed is higher than the day’s final average.
Even the waves got better yesterday before sunset. The secondary swell still tosses us deeply, but that’s only every…I don’t know…ten minutes? Not constantly, and less than before.
Bottom line? It’s been a great passage so far. No matter what comes after this, I want to remember that.
The moon rose right before the sun set, and now the clouds are flattered by moonlight.
This veil over the moon teaches me something about the power of intrigue, of revealing while obscuring, of complicating something simple.
It’s not my way to use that aesthetic tool, but I sure do appreciate it. Now that I say it that way, it makes me think of femme allure and why, of all the ways I show up in the world, I’m just not femme.
It also makes me think of the response I get to two photos of me on the way to Hawaii. I’m naked except a safety harness in both, but I’m covering my breasts and pubes in one and waving uncovered in the other. I’ve been told that the full-frontal nude shot is wholesome and cute while the Venus on the half shell version is sexy. Aren’t humans a puzzle?
Saturday, November 16
Last night was gorgeous, just unspeakably wonderful. People get into cruising and voyaging for those experiences: beautiful full super moon, just enough clouds to maintain a sense of interest, a nice cool breeze, and a kindly sea (with a trick to play now and then…nothing is perfect).
The wind picked up with the sunrise and right about 0700, I was tempted to set the yankee.
It would have disturbed James’ sleep and we were sailing well, but it would have been the only way to get another 100+ mile day. I’m rarely so goal oriented and the urge passed.
By 0900, I was laughing at myself because the idea kept coming back. Chill, kid. Numbers are cool but the experience is primary.
The tower started squeaking, so James did a project! He got tools out, tightened the bolt where the squeak was, and put the tools away. Now you have to remember, we’re pretty settled into being underway but we’re still…yep…underway. Every project is rather a big deal.
Noon position: N 15° 15.561’ W 033° 34.281’
Distance noon to noon: 98.9 NM
Average speed: 4.13 kn
Trip distance covered: 526.8 NM
Distance to destination: 1591 NM
