A bit of excitement today, starting at 6am when a loud irregular banging noise started somewhere in the vicinity of the boom or the mast. Sailors are always on high alert for sounds that aren't normal on their boats, and the bonking sound awoke Allan from his sleep just as I had grabbed the flashlight to search out the source. He clambered around in the dim light of morning trying to figure it out, and ultimately surmised it might be the mandrel, the thing the sail rolls around when furled in the boom, and we're still investigating that as a possibility.

Hours later, when flying the spinnaker for a little better speed and stability in the light winds we're experiencing today, we heard a sudden loud snap and a flurry of whooshing, and in a flash the spinnaker was over the side of the boat in the water, released somehow from the top of the mast. We hauled the sail onto the deck and Allan went up the mast (no small feat at sea) expecting to find that the halyard had chafed at the top of the mast and worn through. But once up there he was relieved to discover that the fitting had only released and let the head of the sail fly free.

No damage done, so we repacked the sail and put it back up to dry while we had a late lunch. A little later, when continuing to investigate the bonking mandrel sound, Allan discovered numerous loose screws in the boom vang mount as well the boom mount itself. A call to Alan Massey at Forespar on the Sat Phone gave us some good guidance, and as a crew we discussed our options, backups, and possible preventative measures, and decided to continue. We have a very good team on this boat. Tiffany's sailing knowledge and technical capabilities are excellent, and she and Allan can really put their heads together to solve problems. Greg and I round out the team by suggesting off-the-wall alternatives and keeping the big picture in perspective. Also, I make brownies. Nothing makes things better than a fresh batch of fudge brownies, except maybe some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

As I write we're about 265 miles offshore, roughly due south of Cabo San Lucas. The sun is setting, the gang is pulling the spinnaker down and putting the jib up, we're having leftovers for dinner, and getting ready for the night watch rotation. All is well.

Cheers -- A & A & G & T