Ship's Log
08 December 2008 | Mid Atlantic Ocean
David Hantke
Water 79 degrees
We continue to attempt to make deals with the weather gods, but they're both better players than we are and we have no cards. At least we were able to sail last night, although our speed wasn't great. This morning, however, we awakened to freshly baked coffee cake and an equally fresh breeze from the north. We have generally been able to keep a speed of about 5.5-6.5 knots, occasionally topping 7.5, which in theory should put us into port on Saturday evening, however there's no guarantee that the
breeze will continue, so we just hope. Also, the breeze is sufficiently northerly that we can't set our spinnaker, which also loses us another knot or so. Such is life.
We had three simultaneous hook-ups about an hour ago. Two nicely sized dorado and a comfortably sized wahoo. The dorado have been fileted and a portion of the wahoo is currently slated for fresh fish sandwiches with garlic-mayonnaise a little later for a fashionably late lunch (I'm hoping that finely chopped garlic will blend nicely with the mayonnaise, it seems to do so at home).
Last night was beautiful, for those of us who took the night watch. The occasional cloud crossed the skies and there was a waxing gibbous moon. In those areas neither washed out by the moon nor occluded by clouds thousands of stars twinkled more brightly than they will ever be seen from shore. I saw the Andromeda Galaxy without a telescope about a week (I think) ago. That was a first for me, as well. Anyhow, it's quite relaxing just slowly sailing across a warm ocean with equally warm breezes under
a dark but starlit sky.
The younger crew continues to lust after dairy products, hamburgers, Cheeze-Its and so forth. We hear dreamy talk of milkshakes and the like periodically. The senior crew has darker motives and has been heard to be discussing various rum drinks rumored to be available in the Caribbean. This scribe, however, vividly remembers partying after the last landfall several years ago and has resolved to break his temperance with enhanced moderation this time around, particularly given the necessity of a prolonged
airplane trip the next day. We shall see.
The ship's music has changed, as well. Trinidad steel drums, calypso, Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffett are heard more frequently than before.
Fair winds...