Yesterday we made160 miles, today 169.
You can't beat sailing when it is like this. The wind has been just
forward of the beam, with Cleone settled in nicely on the starboard tack.
The seas have built up and we have had occasional bursts of rain, with an
increase in windspeed leading the showers. But unlike her lighter
bretheren, Cleone revels in these conditions. Left to her self, she slides
sideways up the waves, flicks over the top and slides smoothly down the other
side. Occasionally a shorter, steeper wave slaps against the side,
but if he is quick, the helmsman can duck to avoid what little spray blows over
the cockpit side. We have two reefs in the three plain sails - genoa, main
and mizzen - and this gives us six or seven knots of boat speed, and enough
power to push through the seas without stalling. Although it takes a bit
of wind to get her going, Cleone's weight and hull shape never allows her to
slap or bang in the seas, and her little hard-top may not be handsome, but
it allows the helmsman and any cockpit companions to shelter comfortably
from rain and spray. During these times, we catch up with other lighter
and normally faster fellow yachts.
Bruce's forecast, hopefully arriving as this mail goes out, will
confirm our belief that we are now through the Doldrums, and properly into
the Trades. We'll settle back and enjoy the ride, confident that if the
wind drops or veers towards the east, the new kite will be out of its
turtle, up the mast and slid from its snuffer, and in a trice will be urging us
towards Tobago with renewed vigour.
Only the fish continue to disappoint; skipper's bully beef hash for supper
again I shouldn't wonder.
Meanwhile, all is well with us, and very best wishes to you all.
James, Paul and Volker