DAY 3
After breakfast, Andy gave a magnificent weather lesson. It is so nice to see someone teach their passion to other people—it really is contagious! After that, everyone got briefed on their duties for their watches, and we proceeded to hoist anchor and head out to the open sea for our offshore phase.
The wind might have been one of the only glums for the day, failing to fill even the slightest puff, but making a stunning sight to watch. We managed to keep busy by taking sun sights, practicing reefing, and enjoying a great lasagna cooked by Mia.
Just a few hours ago, as the sun was setting down over the oily, windless sea, the breeze started picking up a little bit. We unfurled the jib, turned the engine off, and are now underway—not making a lot of way, but enjoying the peace and quiet of a very starry night.
I managed to get a sight on Vega, and I’m like a kid with a new toy taking sights on this trip. My last sights were back five years ago when I was training with my Mini 6.50, and I never really understood the bigger picture—just followed my proformas and got my plots. Having seen the way Andy teaches and explains it has really woken a passion inside of me. I never thought I was smart enough to be able to understand celestial navigation, so I’ve either become really smart in five years or it really is down to who you learn from, and I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher.
Time to put the kettle on and wake up the other watch. Signing off the Portuguese coast. — Alex
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Seasickness
But maybe, I thought, with some drugs I could stay ahead of it. The first 48 hours I felt horrible. But luckily with 3 health care professionals on board and in a very encouraging environment, my body found its way. Anyway, someone offered me a patch (unavailable in Canada) and someone else gave me some pills for nausea and now I feel much, much better.
Dolphins and Bioluminescence
We had a good run with the sails but weather has changed and we are once again chasing the wind. Everyone is getting a chance to practice helming in big swell; starting to get a feel of the wind and water and how it pushes and pulls the hull. A pod of dolphins came to visit at night, splashing in the bioluminescent water, and again in the day, dancing in the bow wake. For now enjoying the calmer sea state and falling asleep to the rumble of the engine and the gentle whooshing of the water on the hull.
Greetings from Lala Lemonshark
The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!