Going fast slowly

We are somewhat becalmed and the weatherguru predicts the same for the next
few days. Sail fast live slow is how we would like it, but not just yet. In
order to maintain a decent speed in order to meet our ETA, we are motoring
and flying the gennekar at the same time. The wind is so light that the
gennekar backfills at times. To match the engine speed and keep the sail up
is the best we can do. To just motor drops our speed considerably. We have
got a bit of current as well, any little bit of assistance helps. Wind
predicted is 8 to 13kts. Travelling forward at 6kts brings this down to
almost nothing to 7kts in the sail, what we call the apparent wind. It will
change, and in the meantime we have keep on doing the best we can.

Yesterday we saw a big seaturtle, a sure sign of being in the current.
Earlier today a school of bonito followed us for a while. Overcast
conditions with high clouds. Bigger patches clearing up here and there as
the day progresses and the temperature rises. Once this happens early in
the day the wind will come through.

On watch last night I was wondering where the wind comes from, or what
causes the wind to blow. Cariolis effect as the earth spins causes wind,
The trade winds as they are called, the polar regions causes wind, jet
streams affect the wind hugely, hot and cold temperature causes wind, high
and low pressure systems causes wind. Indirectly I think tides and currents
also causes wind. Tides one can calculate exactly, currents are also fairly
constant.

In another way wind is symbolic of spirit, of freedom, of change. Now I
wonder if I look at the natural causes of wind and wonder how that relates
to the symbolic nature of wind. What causes our spirit to move and what
exactly is spirit. What is freedom and freedom from what, and how does one
deal with constant change. This is part of what one does when you are out
here, ponder these sometimes imponderable questions.

You may think to sail away is an escape from reality. I know out here is
the purest form of reality. So it is rather an escape from a perceived
reality created by the media, and evolving ever further into an infinite
reality. Where one feels that infinite part of you resonating with
Infinity. And that ones again opens other doors of perception. There is
always an answer to a question, but it may not be the right or wrong
answer. What is right for one is sometimes wrong for another. What is
universal is beauty. If the answer is beautiful, it is true.

This is another advantage of catamarans. One can sit and share one's
thoughts in utter comfort on a downwind run as we are :) And a 360* sea
view !!!. Our position currently 14h00 UTC is 23*27'S/006*14'E. We have
covered about a 1000nm in the last 6 days. Our C.O.G. is 306*T and we are
averaging 6kts at present. Temperature is a very pleasant 25*C.

Take care

Paul