The Adventures of No Strings Attached

Sailing in the tropics during the days is sublime. The horizon stretches to infinity, broken only by lines of clouds, and sometimes squalls (mmore on thesse later). The temps are warm, if not awfully hot, and to stay on deck uncovered is to risk heatstrke. The sailing is textbook. We're close reaching north at 8 kts under a #4 jib and a reefed main. I think we've changed the trim once in 3.5 days. Driving is ez, just point north and go, taking time to drive up and over the biggest waves, if you happen to catch them in time. NSA is a comfortable, if very wet ride upwind. There's no pounding, but we're weighted down with food, fuel, and water for 20 days, so she is bit sluggish.

Nights

To begin this, we're on a 3 on, 6 off day schedule - 0600-1800, then we go to a 2 on 4 off shift from 1800-0600. We're finally adapting so we're getting more than enough rest. Why is this relevant? Because we're alone on deck at night unless the weather is really snotty, then either Steve orI sit in with Tim to keep him company.

So at night you're left alone with the stars, and a boat racing headlong into the night, with the wheel in your fingertips. It's an awesome feeling, and you quickly gain the perception that what we're doing is really quite an adventure, and that we're in a rather fragile position out here. There is a weird optical illusion at night that you're chasing the horizon, and that it's just beyond the bow. During the day, you can take in everything, and appreciate the blank expanse of it all. At night your world compresses to half a boat length, where the instrument pod is located, and the masthead where the lights and windex are found. Everything else is pitch, roll, and yaw by braille.

Last night I was treated to a spectacular moonset, with a crescent moon framed by squalls with the constellation Triangulum directly above the point where the moon plunged into the sea. It was unforgettable. Tonight I'm taking the camera upstairs to see if there is a repeat performance.

The passage is so long that we don't thin of our destination...it's too far away. We're focused only on direction, and that is north as long as the wind holds out or we reach 38N where we'll turn for the coast.

next up: squalls...or maybe one for Linda....who is this Laetitia bitch that you snuck on board?

Cheers

Nick, Steve, Tim and Laetitia