I am sitting at the table in the cockpit writing this. We are running wing and wing with the jib for the first time and set it at 10:30 last night. With this setup we can run dead downwind and SLEEP. Until 10:30 we have been running the assymetrical spinnaker for three days and nights. It did well until last night when the winds were gusting into the low 20's. Nothing quite sounds like a spinnaker that is driving the boat at 8+ knots in wind in the low 20's when she coils up like a snake ready to bite and then snaps back into shape with a sharp, loud crack. The sea conditions and the building swell made me wake the crew to get it down before we wished we had. Katy at the helm, me and Jill on the foredeck, Ernie on the sheets we went to it. First, its not easy to douse a spinnaker in 20+ knots unless everyone does their job correctly. We travel out the main and head deep to blanket and de-power the spinnaker. Since our spinnaker has a sock or bag, the bag man must prepare his line free of tangles, knots and feet. Clip on to the jacklines is the most important. At the first lull in the wind we go. Ease the sheet until the bagman can begin the pull down. We did it well and the big spinnaker disappeared into her cozy little sleeping bag. Clean up, set the jib and main for wing and wing and go.

Besides that, Tania made hamburger patties that were unbelieveably good last night. The meat is a mix of beef and pork. We made a mushroom gravy, a pot of wild rice and served it as Hawaiian moco loco (modified). We will change ship time today as again the sun is coming up later and later. We are at 36 degrees West and the times they are a' changin.

Love you all,

Wayne S/V LibŽlula