1134 UTC 18° 58.8'N, 021° 46.78'W
Sailing,
Life aboard Adrienne is hot and sticky. we are all to varying degrees stewing in our own sweat day and night any moment of relief from our increasingly stinky clothes and tacky bodies is caused for celebration.
We had one shower day about a week ago. This involved a hose with salt water laddering up and then a very short rinse with freshwater. As good as it was by the time you dressed, you were already sweating.
We’ve been talking about another shower day for a few days now. Our individual and collective odors were increasingly a significant part of our community. We missed a window two days ago and people were pretty disappointed. Naxo promised to make it happen yesterday.
At about 1 o’clock as we were cruising along nearing the Cape Verde Islands Manot came to the aft cockpit and asked us if we wanted to go for a swim.
One of the things about persistent heat is that you tend to slow down from the heat and the lack of good sleep.
It was hilarious how fast we all started moving once we heard we might go for a swim in the ocean. We’d heard this was a possibility, but thought it was only going to happen in the doldrums which we had passed beyond.
We slowed to a stop throughout some safety lines with a jug at the end to make sure that people could stay within reach. With our captain’s blessing, we started jumping in,
hooting and hollering, grinning like children on a carnival ride.
The water around here is approximately 30°C glorious, comfortable and clear. We estimated the depth at about 5000 m. Some of us jumped some of us dove. There were flips and cannon balls. Katie and Caitlin swam the circumference of Adrianne. Peter ever efficient started the trend of a complete wash down with soap and shampoo and then a return to the ocean to rinse. We each then returned to the aft deck for our freshwater rinse.
It was simple and delightful and also mind-boggling to be bobbing and washing in the great ocean under a clear sky with nothing around but our floating home and each other. What a joyful moment.
Of course we were sweating again by the time we got dressed. But the deeper cleaning of this ocean plunge will certainly linger for days.
KIF SCHEUER
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Farewell by dolphins
We headed out of the marina in Monterey CA at about 10AM in sunny weather to meet winds of ~20kts and 3m smooth swell with long periods. FALKEN is surfing along the coast of California, ship’s time 1PM as I write. As we motored out into the bay, we were wished farewell by a pod of dolphins nearby and a couple of whales in the distance. Though, unfortunately one crew member met the green dragon in the swell.
The Human Factor
Thus our existence slowly reverted to a much simpler form of being. We start to notice the smaller things, we start looking up and around, we start observing our thoughts. Sailing can be a great social accelerator. Sharing hardship and milestones, friendships are born and evolve at a speed that would seem impossible from land. And after those three weeks spent with you, I am getting ready to leave our vessel with the profound conviction that those bonds will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
The Penultimate Blog from Adrienne II
After 20 days, and 3000+ nautical miles, we're back on land. The motley crew of Adrienne II, consisting of 7 happy amateurs supported by 3 professionals, have completed an epic journey many dream of but few realize. So much of this trip has been about being present - with nature, with each other, with this boat. My biggest takeaway from this trip is the amazing crossing of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). We all hope you've enjoyed the blog as much as we've enjoyed creating it.
