Happy SSB

March 31

Again, opportunity to make bread didn't rise. Spent most of day up close and personal with assorted bits of single side band radio. Began by checking and cleaning connections to radio, then tuner. Latter involved filling cockpit with contents of aft lazarette then mashing svelte 169 pound form into resultant hole to gain access. De-mounted unit and opened it up, during which 27 individual pieces of hardware were removed (difficulty of ingress is probably a message), to see what's what (key phrase of naughty joke that will not be divulged) and to increase likelihood of irreparable damage. Discovered lots of pretty lights that changed pattern when tiny switch was exercised. It's OK, I'm sure it's OK, it looks OK, it's probably OK, you think it's OK?. Won't have chance to check ops until 1645, but email still works.

- Later

SSB has regained its former radiant elan. The pure euphonious sound of my voice again graces the marine and ham radio bands over a significant percentage of the inhabited universe, creating euphoria and rejoicing in even the smallest hamlet and in all the ships at sea (*Warning* preceding may contain a smattering of subjective judgment and/or hyperbole - some of reaction may be accounted to Easter).

At 0200 local, wind sprang up from south at useable velocity. Cool! Sailed from then, with blue sky, lower humidity and easy sea, until 1600. Had gone below for necessary duty when rain shower that had been gaining all day got close enough to switch wind 180 degrees. Obedient Voyager followed it around, aiming toward Equador (the big part) with an alacrity that was gratifying, if somewhat misguided and inconvenient. After return to more agreeable course, subsequent broad starboard tack lasted a few minutes until arrival of complete calm. Furled the one non-self-tacking sail and trimmed the others to await pleasure of conditions from approaching clear sky aft. Clear sky was pleased to offer more of same and then more. Now motoring SE to find wind. Forecast from weather guy not reassuring. Have kept bad news from horses, but, knowing something is amiss, they are becoming restive.

Jack