Back Under Sail
04 February 2011 | Roughly 150 miles NE of Marsh Harbor
Jeff
We were able to start sailing again last night at 2220 after powering for nine and a half hours. Pam was on watch and made a good call when she figured that we had enough wind to sail. The wind was from the ESE so we couldn't sail due E so the best we could do is ENE. At least we were sailing and making some progress to the east. Since that time the wind has veered slightly, as predicted to the SE and sometimes SSE. By staying close hauled (beating) we have been able to head more closely to due east - which is our goal. While I was on watch last night we had our first visit from sea life. All of a sudden I heard this fluttering noise on the windshield of the dodger. I turned on my red head lamp and could barely ID that it was a flying fish. He was a high flyer as he came over the high (windward) side of the boat. After some more fluttering he managed to make it just inches from the gunnel on the low side of the of the boat. About five inches more of fluttering and he might have made it back to the water. Being the nice guy that I am, I quickly located him and noticed that he was still moving so I gently grabbed him and returned him to the sea. I hope he has a long life and will fly lower from no on. I know at least one French sailor that would have have tossed our high flyer in the frying pan rather than the ocean.
Today has been a great sailing day beating at a ten degree heel in 2 to 3 foot seas in winds between 10 and 15 knots. With this wind we have been able to maintain a fairly consistent six plus knots. I can hear our power boat friends from here - six knots really???
After talking to our weather gurus, Chris and Herb, our strategy is to continue sailing as easterly as possible staying north of Latitude 28 degrees north until Monday. On Monday what we do depends on where we are and the position of a frontal boundary. So stay tuned for that decision..