It's been a hard days night,and I've been working...

It certainly is getting a bit rougher out here.We have been beating
into 15 kts north easterlies and then the sea became progressively
bigger and choppier.Dropped the mainsail to 2nd reef and not a minute to
early.She started picking up and peaked at about 25 kts.Drops again and
furl the genoa tentavily out a bit more and then in again when the wind
gets stronger.The watches are going quicker as conditions are getting
more demanding and require more attention to keep us going as safe and
as smooth as possible.Also had two fishing vessels on the horizon last
night,and this morning we sailed passed some of their floats or markers
where they have their nets.

Now and then we have a wave crashing over the bow and one was a bit
bigger and splashed some water into the saloon.Pieter who was on watch
was drenched.He said he saw the wave coming over as in slow motion and
did not react quick enough not to get wet.Very fortunately for us he
also noticed that our roller furler sheet,or rope that we use to bring
the headsail in and out,was chafed badly at on spot and we could effect
repairs before it blew out on us.This normally would happen when you
want it the least,at night with 25 kts pumping.In practise it means that
the whole headsail sail will come out and cause endless
problems.Happened to me once one a delivery from China to New
Zealand,and instinctively I backfilled the headsail into a hove to
position.Using the head and mainsail to work against each other and
cause the boat to basically come to a standstill.Every piece of
equipment is now getting tested and so far we are on top of it.

I often ask the guys to helm a bit on their watches for various
reasons.It is very different helming downwind than negotiating big waves
coming in from the sides,driving up to the crest and put the boat down
gently on the back of the wave.And they just keep coming,requiring a lot
of focus and nerve at times.We were laughing today about the experience
we are having.If you sit in a bar and someone tells you how they sailed
from this island to that island,you can either just keep quiet and smile
like me or have a story to tell.Pieter reckons this is a lot of work
just to have a story in a bar to tell.I prefer to write about our
experiences so that you can hopefully have something interesting to read
and share a bit of our experience.

Pieter is doing well with the green monster but it shows up now and
then.Brad now gave a name to this monster,Shrek!I like Shrek,no,I love
Shrek,but that is probably the nicest name we could come up with.Last
night for supper Pieter treated us to Chicken ala Pasta Shells and we
enjoyed it thoroughly.My turn to cook today,goulash with spiced rice.Not
the real Turkish goulash,although I hear that is also very tasty.Brad
baked the oats cookies,although we had no coconut or bicarb of soda,it
is still a treat that we can munch on.You must get the idea that we eat
all day long...ha ha ha.Not really,but our bodies do require substinance
as the motion of the boat does take a lot of energy out of you.Passive
exercise,even when you sleep.

You take care and we promise to take care on this side.

Paul