As our first evening at sea progressed the forcast proved correct and the winds strengthened and the sea got bigger. For those seasoned sailers out there this may seem tame but for us land creatures things were getting exciting.
By midnight with 25 knots gusting 30 just off the starboard quarter Shimshal was loving life, creaming along at 10 knots, occasionally surfing down waves and touching 12 knots, all rather exciting when you can't see where you are going and are hanging on tight to stay upright.
A beautiful dark night with soooooo many stars with the added excitement of big, (for us), waves occasionally breaking over the sturn. Shimshal thundered on with us hanging on for the ride and trying to sleep when not on watch.
Again, as forcast, as dawn appeared the winds moderated and Heathers watch was spent at 7 knots in much flatter seas watching the sun rise. Now, by late morning we have only 10 knots of wind from behind and are creeping along under polled out genoa and full main sail, trying to put off motoring as long as possible. We are however approaching the equator and the doldrums so some time on the engine is to be expected.
By Tim