The quiet before the storm

We sailed passed the most northern tip of Colombia last night. The winds
were consistently strong during the day and carried on through the
night. Biggish swells also formed and it was great fun averaging 10kts
and surfing down the swells at close to 17kts. We are about 40nm from
nearest land and staying off the coast and following the contour lines.
Due to the increased shipping activity we have our navlights on again at
night. This morning when the 6am watch started it was still dark and
sunrise was only at 7. We will adjust our boat clocks today which will
place us 7 hours after SA, UTC - 5. Wind direction is mostly still from
the east and we are sailing dead on a run, the wind right behind us. Our
weather prediction is that the wind will start backing a bit to NE,
increase by about 10 kts taking us to a consistent 30 kts with potential
gusts up to 45kts+ within the next 24 hrs. There are some cirrus clouds
in the air foretelling high winds. That will give us a straight angle
again on Panama which is about 450nm away, an easy three days, but
requiring a bit more care. I have learned to be extra careful when you
are closest to your destination. One has the tendency to relax after
some hard sailing, but that is where mistakes creep in. Relax once you
are safely anchored or moored, all you want.

In the fishing department there are always new developments, but the
results are not in yet. Rigged a flying fish that landed on deck and
trolling but still shy of a score. Maybe we should try.........Just
weent to go and check the flying fish lure and the fish is off. Will
have to try again. Fortunately we have four flying fish ready to be
baited up. Before I go and do that our nautical is 'Ride the Storm' To
survive by patience and fortitude, as a vessel rides a storm. Impossible
to go forward or run before it the ship lowers or shortens her sail and
rides the waves until the storm abates. A vessel also 'rides' to her
anchor, although this may be because the old-fashioned word for anchor
was roding, thought to derive from roadstead, the area where craft
normally anchored. The expression 'let her ride' originates from here
and was part of an official order to discharge the crew at the end of
the voyage and 'let the vessel ride'.

Our position at 10 am is 12*57'N/072*56'W. A pleasant 27*C with blue
skies above and blue seas below. Have a super Saturday.

Captain Paul