Life on Starboard Tack
16:45 UTC | 28° 33.969’N 054° 03.827’W
We currently travel north through the Trades towards the Azores High. Maybe there is a potential end in sight to the relentless beating to weather we’ve experienced over the last 5 days at sea. There are some perks to being close-hauled on a starboard tack for an extended period of time. The electric kettle, for example, is perfectly nestled in the corner of the galley right next to the plug.
We’ve all had a good workout on our right shoulders, as the heavy gusts produce a bit of weather helm to be overcome. Those of us who have been graced with a portside bunk have enjoyed being nestled between the hull and the mattress on off watch, while those of us who sleep on the starboard side might find ourselves having to apologize to the skipper for falling out of bed and kneeing him in the gut. (Sorry Erik, it was the boat’s fault.)
We’ve all learned how to brace ourselves for this specific tack in a fresh breeze. We occasionally wonder if the boat feels the same way, with her starboard-side rigging standing tall and taut for so long.
I have a feeling when we come about in 4 days or so, we’ll all have to relearn how to live and move about comfortably on our 70 ft home in constant motion. All is well.
// Delaney, ADRIENNE II Mate
View more passage logs
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!