00’12.7N 31’20.5W
6,4kn course 200′
Sails up, out of the doldrums!
We made it! We have our sails back up, and have made our way to the South East tradewinds on the other side of the doldrums! What a relieve, engine is off since this afternoon.. where we had hoped to sail around noon, but the wind did not hold. After setting the mainsail (the good one), we had lunch, but had to let the sail back down, as the waves were to confused and rocky to keep the sail full. Around 15h in the afternoon the real wind picked up. Before dinner we set sail and off we went.
The day started with shower upon shower. At the end of the morning watch, the water jug was halfway full with rain water! To bad, as most of us had taken their rain shower the day before! The temperature had dropped a little as well, 25 degrees instead of 29. But with all the doors closed, inside it was still toasty warm.
We have spotted some groups of new birds, Noddy’s we think. They seem to be hunting together and sometimes get disturbed by a family of 4 red footed boobies. The red footed boobies stayed with us most of the day. Their hunting skills are as good as those of their Northern relatives, the Gannet. But very different! The red footed boobies hunt for flying fish and so in stead of diving, they sore over the water until they spot a group of fish and then they accelerate with their hooked wings until they gain terrain on the flying fish and they catch them from behind. They then, sort of, throw them into the air and snatch them up so they can eat them quick. If this fails and the fish drop, they dive after them like their Northern relatives. It’s a show worth watching! And although we have become friends with the flying fish, you sort of cheer the boobies on as they speed up to amazing speeds!
Just 12 more degree minutes until we meet Poseidon! On our current course line this is about 13 miles, just over 2 hours.. The watch that is resting now, will be woken up.. and what is in store for them… we will let you know tomorrow!
