5 days at sea

It is our fifth day at sea.The weather has been kind to us and it is
ever so slowly becoming warmer.The water temperature has also steadily
been climbing at exactly 1 degree per day.Starting at 11 degrees we are
now sitting on 16 degrees.This morning at 3am the water is 18 degrees C.
We,ve had more sun than clouds although today
was overcast.We are maintaing our average of 6.6 nm per hour,whether
under sail,motorsailing or just motoring.The current is helping us along
as well and we have no reason for not becoming one with all that is
around us.

On the one hand we are on an outward journey,on the other the other hand
on an inward one.Both work well together as we are
shifted out of our familiarities,deal with elements in their purest form
and have time to contemplate in between.Between Gareth,Malcolm and
myself we span about four generations.Gareth is our IT Officer amongst
many other portfolios he fills.Malcolm,at 63 is seasoned at life and
what makes it work.His first ocean crossing,way to go Malcolm!Me,I am
inbetween,this world and that world.Together the dynamics are dynamic
and good things are happening around us.One of them that Carolina landed
an opportunity with Ocean Sailing Academy.May both Carolina and OSA benefit
richly from this,and may many more people be prompted to answer that call
to the sea and enjoy a little of the best of what life has to offer.

The first night we had soup,a freshly packed variety of veggies and it
went down well whilst waiting for our sealegs to take shape.The second
night we had fresh yellow tail and spuds,the third night we had
beefstew,the fourth night spaghetti and tonight Malcolm introduced us to
Toad in the Hole,an old English dish.I heard about it from Emma that you
will remember from our trip on Angie.An English rose of note,the thought
of her brings back pleasant memories.We did not had the right
ingredients for Toad in the Hole but then she also introduced me to mushy
peas...mmmmmmmm.She and Ben is now working on a boat in Fort Lauderdale and doing
just fine.

Thanks to Mom for sending a grib weather file.Looks like we will have about 15 kts
SE for the next two days,petering out to a breeze for another day or two and then
coming in strong again at 20 kts from ESE,perfect for a final run to St.Helena.On
a bit of a technical note we have been motorsailing with both genoas up and the wind
on our stern for the last two days.To bring the free flying genoa down is really easy.
You get your spinnaker halyard ready to drop,ready your sheet and turn the boat towards
the side the loose genoa is on.Soon it will backfill into the furled out genoa,you
release the sheet tied to the clew and then drop the spinnaker halyard.Save ,quick and
effective.Flake it,fold it,bag it.1,2,3.

I wish you a fabulous day and may you see more than meets the eye.Capture a moment.

Paul