Albatross - YB Connect Message from Fernando Assens

Nov 30 - 11th Day at Sea

All is well. We are 1,477 miles from St Lucia, and Las Palmas is 1,200 miles behind us. Today we sailed about 100 miles as the crow flies, around 130 in zig zag, tacking around.

The night started with us motor-sailing on very light winds. At about 1:00 am, wind picked up to 8-11 knots. As the day progressed we put the first reef, then the second, and at 5:00 pm got into a squall with 35 knot winds. We rolled the jib and run with the main and two reefs for about 20 minutes. Billy and Chuck were of great help.

Winds are down to 15-19 knots, but we are still in an area of storm cells. To settle for the night we have taken the main down and are sailing jib only at 5-6 knots.

The weather router has us now going on a 140° course to avoid a front developing north of us. St Lucia lies ahead at 251°.

Yesterday night a sailboat crossed our transom a couple of miles away, and now we see another sailboat, Falabrach, 4 miles ahead.

James, our chef for the day, cooked bratwurst with onions, a green beans and tomato salad, and spaghetti with olive oil and garlic. Not an easy task on a boat jumping up and down. Although he was helped by sous-chefs Kevin and Lolo.

Today we saw several flying-fish jump around us and one, at night, jumped to my feet when I was steering. We threw him back to the water. He gets to live another day.

Morale is very high. We are all well rested and are eating well.


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Transmitted by Fernando Assens using YB Connect (www.ybtracking.com)