Testarossa Daily Message: Almost There! 149 NM's To Go! ETA = ~ 0700L Friday 27 May / Thursday 26 May 2016//
As of 1419L hours on 26 May 2016, our position is: 38*10.893'N /
31*49.089'W. We are steaming 106* COG making 7.6 Kts SOG, under
double-reefed main and shortened jib, 149 NM's from the Azores. Note:
Our ETA Azores is 0700L / 27 May 16.
"Of all things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women..."
Excerpt from, The Middle Passage, by C. Johnson, Pg. 1
We continued to smoke along yesterday - making great time underway,
still sailing away under our boomless main, and full headsail. Luckily,
the wind gods have continued to favored us, as a strong breeze stayed
with us, even freshening overnight. The 2nd watch reported several waves
which doused them. One wave came over the lower rail and covered
David's sea booties up to the knees, the other wave also came over the
upper rail and doused him top to bottom. I'm smelling a salty yarn
here...! (Or perhaps it's the lack of showers!)
Dinner last evening was Ms. Lorrie's famous bowtie Pasta N Chicken a la Pesto. Also, squash for veggies.
Of special note, was last night's sunset - the best to date. Now I know
that I am beginning to sound like a broken record here - all this talk
of sunsets & sunrises, but you must understand that not only are
they defining moments in life at sea, but they are also spectacular
sights as well. So please indulge me, and allow me but once again to try
and describe last nights glorious sunset (although words are so
inadequate. So too our pictures, etc, and other means of conveyance):
As we sail eastward, the sun sets behind us, last evening just off our
left stern. The sky was overall bright and clear, however on the distant
horizon to our left, a diagonally running line of high stratus clouds
came overhead from North to South slanting down to the horizon in a
sweeping angle from left to right looking aft. Due to the upper level
winds, this cloud layer was highly granulated and patterned, with a
fabric looking very much like corrugated steel, with its wavy appeal and
all. As the sun set below this layer, bright bright orange sky greeted
us, with the overlying clouds taking on a purple, dark grey hue. The
sun, as big and incandescent red-orange as ever lights up the lower side
of the overlying cloud layer, especially playing off the various
portions of the horizontal ridges running from horizon to horizon. The
overall result - spectacular. It reminded me of looking into a camp fire
at night and seeing the brightly lit embers of orange playing off the
darker surfaces of the burning timbers - in this case, bright oranges
and pinks against the purple-black background of the clouds. A sunset
such as this was truly breath taking and is one in a million. Oh what
will tomorrow bring?
We took lots of pictures of the setting sun -
which I do hope turn out and serve to give at least some impression as
to what I have tried to express, albeit, surely without doing it proper
justice - I am sure. Nevertheless, the epic setting at least deserved
the attempt.
(Look for future postings on FB for some of the pictures from these described moments)
In closing, I would just like to add, that life below decks is a
challenge too! So when not on watch, it isn't easier down below! The
main reason for this, is the heel of the ship, the noise of the sea as
it flows past, the noise within the ship as items big and small toss too
and fro, the waves breaking beneath our hull - like just now - and the
perpetual rocking of the ship for and aft.
To those trying to
sleep in these conditions - I salute you! For you are most likely better
at it than I. So it was, that it was definitely hard to sleep last
night under these conditions. In order to better understand this, please
try this simple exercise at home:
First of all, in order to
better appreciate the rocking / heeling of the ship, have several
friends lift up one edge of your mattress while you try to lay in bed.
Have them rock the mattress back and forth randomly, and with varying
degrees of force, while you hold on for dear life. Try and go to sleep.
If you would like to take it up and notch, and go varsity level, and
also appreciate the corresponding sounds heard aboard a sailing ship at
sea, whilst trying to sleep, have another friend go out to the kitchen
and push over the refrigerator.
Finally, tilt your sofa up at a
30* angle and sleep in the corresponding "V", make it intermittently -
about 1/2 hour at a time for full effect. Please remember to leave your
cloths on. A bonus if you get a "wedgie" from this exercise - you'll
know you are doing it right.
Kids - Please get parential consent before moving any of the furniture, lest you encounter a local "squall" on your end!
Personal Messages from the Crew:
-------------------------------
Captain George: Missing my girl!!! 143
Ms. Lorrie: Napping - could not be reached for comment.
Bugalou: Happy to be getting close to the Azores. Another great day on the water.
Felipe: 4CJ - Be back in touch starting tomorrow! Will check in
soonest. Listen to song: I would walk 500 miles, by the Proclaimers.
xxx143 143 / Hey Glenn, check out book "Middle Passage" by Charles
Johnson - great great read. Team V - The Azores! Reminds me of a long
long time ago in a land far far away... Malta! :)
Mr. David, Esq: Fran and Family - Facebook me when you are around to
Skype tomorrow - we will be on UK time, and hope to arrive and be all
cleaned up with the boat by 2-3pm, DP x
-------------------------
For all our ARC friends reading this via the ARC website, don't forget
to check out our first video on YouTube. Google: Bene Testarossa BVI to
Bermuda.
[Also, look for our 2nd video coming out soon, once we
are "feet dry," ashore in Azore. It will be on YouTube and titled: Bene
Testarossa Bermuda to Azores]
Also, you can like us on Facebook, under the same name - Bene Testarossa. Welcome to send in your Friend Requests as well.
Speaking of the ARC Website, it has come to our attention that "reports
of our demise - have been greatly exaggerated"... Well at least of our
position, which is reporting that we are still 600+ NM's out! This is
incorrect as our tracking device has ceased to properly operate. We are
now 145.0 NM's out, according to our chart plotter at time 1509L.
Take care all, and Cheers to all, from Team Testarossa! Azores inbound, our last day at sea! See you all ashore!
Testarossa Sends,
USA 143