Cordelia
(Double-Handed
Division) is in “an excellent place on the planet” say Roy and Gail
Greenwald
1800
Saturday. Winds Southwest, 5-10 knots. Well, we (finally) made it
into the Gulf Stream. It has been a long slog without much wind and
wide tacks. But we did manage to enter right on Gail’s planned entry
point and the wind, such as there is, has shifted just enough to allow
us to aim for our planned exit point. . . .
Cordelia
Sorry
I didn’t write yesterday, but not too much went on. Actually, except
for the lack of wind, the weather has been beautiful, a real
sun-worshipper’s
delight. But when you are sitting in the cockpit manning a watch it
can get a bit toasty. Right now I am doing something I have never done
all these years on the water. I am sitting in the cockpit typing this
at night. It’s about 3 AM Monday morning and the weather is quite
warm, balmy, and sticky. Everything you can touch is damp. I am facing
the stern and can see the Big and Little Dippers with Drago the dragon
weaving between them. Overhead is a riot of stars including all of the
familiar constellations that my dad showed me years ago. The Milky Way
lights up the background, providing their background setting. There
is not much fluorescence in the stern wake now, just a few specks now
and then, and lightning is flashing well ahead of us in the Gulf Stream
– which is quite typical. What an excellent place on the planet to
be! THIS is why we keep coming out here. The race is sometimes just
an excuse. Without it everyone would think we’re totally crazy.
1030
and I just got up from my off watch. We have crossed the strongest
currents
in the Gulf Stream and are still doing 8 knots. The wind is finally
up some. We’ll see for how long. Bring it on! Our max speed in the
Stream was 11.4.
Esmeralde’s Stream
crossing, from Dorsey and Bruce Beard (Double-Handed Division)
0800
Monday. Sailing along in light southerly. Clearing skies,
calming seas. Full sail, close reach. Typical Gulf Stream overnight.
Bumpy, squally. 20-25 kts, true, 260m. Reefed main, double-reefed headsail. Wet and unpleasant. Had current set to
the SW and W most of the time. Now getting current set SE and E,
slightly
foul, but shifty and not strong. For the first time, no other boats
in sight.
Esmeralde
Beautiful
sailing all yesterday afternoon. Port tack until 1400, when we caught
4kts current to the east and big (60 degree) right shift at the same
time. Tacked to stbd and ran at SOG 9-10 kts hard on the wind all
afternoon
and evening. Breeze freshened through the evening, reefs went in,
stayed
high on our course to put $ in bank for E current and approach to Bda.
Overnight got really wet with heavy water over the deck and cold rainy
squalls every 1/2 hour.
All
is well. Alternator is great. Bad smell was a plastic cover on the
motor
that couldn't take the heat of the new alternator. Bruce never liked
it anyway. Now it's toast. Engine charging happily. Will have
to dry out the boat this AM. Dorade boxes dumped water into
main settee (not from cowls, but from under the turtle. . . long ongoing
story).