Jumping coffee

16’36.3N 033’07.5W course 330′ speed 7,0
We have reefed down completely now, the mizzen was the last to come down in size. We reefed the mizzen just after dinner. The wind was predicted to be around 17 knots, but in reality is more like 20 knots. And going against the waves and wind, just feels a little better with all sails reefed.
The change in the seastate is very clear, life has become somewhat interesting after so many days of easy downwind and easy close reach sailing, where there is hardly any heel and no real annoying movement.. But in the last 12 hours, this has changed completely. Coffee jumps out of your cup, everything in the galley is out to get you, opening the fridge door is a skill to learn by mistake and walking the hallway feels like the walls change position every 5 seconds, very suddenly.
Our bunks all have lee boards, without them, we would get little sleep on the windward side. Although most ventilators have been turned down or even off, most of us still have a curtain instead of a closed door, for the flow of fresh air. Hatches are closed as the spray of salt has taken over the deck.

During the afternoon we did an “Abandon Ship” drill complete with donning on survival suits. The suits made for Arctic and Antarctic waters, so a little hot for our current temperatures, but fun to watch any way!

The Cape Verde Islands are abeam of us. We have nearly passed all of them. Myrthe was saying they look so close on the map, but in real life they are hundreds of miles away, and straight into the wind direction. It was only a few months ago, just 5 months, that Myrthe and I were both on our way South to the Falkland Islands, passing in between the Cape Verde Islands, a different group on board and different crew. Although we have a great team on board right now, it does make you think of those on board then, and the running jokes we had then. Singing 80’s songs with Bob, that nobody on board seems to know right now.. as they were all born later.. And talking about Moby Dick with Andrew.. which nobody has read yet on this trip. Maybe I can get someone to use these last 3 weeks to read the book 😉

Books are being read left and right though! The “Unsung Hero”, “Frozen in Time”, “Two years before the Mast” are just a few of the books the crew is getting into! Especially on voyages like this I am grateful for our amazing library, there is something in there for everybody! I am taking it easy with a thriller right now, but next on the list is North by East, about Greenland or maybe the book, the utmost end of the world, about Tierra del Fuego. Not sure yet..

Stella is at the helm saying wind is warm all of a sudden, so I am going back outside, see what is going on. We have just put on our long pants and two layers of shirts, so warm was not expected right now.

All is well on board, Jet