All morning we were able to do 7 – 9 knots just under jib, forestaysail and reefed mizzen. Currents pushing, but also a heavy breeze that kept us heading in the right direction. Westward! Then during the afternoon the wind decreased, and so at watch hand over 16:00h we set the mainsail for the first time since the dockyard period.
Our new spars, shining from fresh varnish and newness, are something to behold. The new foot outhaul system is smooth and easy to handle and the blocks for foot outhaul and reef are well aligned. So when we set the mainsail we played around a little, trying out just how smooth it was.
But then the winds decreased even more. A light breeze could still be felt on our cheeks, but the sails started to flap and the current was about to turn. It got so light, to a point we had to start the engine and not waste too much time. We are expecting winds from the west during the day, so we need to make some room to be able to head south when the winds start to become strong.
Looking forward, we are expecting winds to increase and become strong and turn Northerly. Good for our course towards the Spanish / Portuguese coast! So far the weather report has been amazing, so we are really keen to keep up with this amazing breeze.
The atmosphere on board is good. The sun was out during the day, although temperatures are still icy cold, the bright sun light makes everybody happy. I made Andijvie stamppot for dinner, with Dutch smoked sausage and musterd saus. A traditional dish that Dutch people eat when it’s cold outside!
I completely forgot the picture-of-the-day competition, although I did see some of the competitors, and they were pretty good! So tomorrow we have two winners! In the meantime Martin has provided me with some good shots of the day, to give a good impression of the mood and weather.
All is well on board, Jet
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