Keeping busy

46’59.4N 015’30.8W course 082′ speed 8,0kn

So we unreeved, we changed the jib, we gybe during the afternoon and then we reeved and changed the jib again, all in 24 hours. Really writing this logbook entry should be more like, everything is the same, nothing changed.. Except it did! After the stronger North Westerly breeze a big long swell had started running. Up to 4 meter waves were rolling underneath us. And as long as the wind was North Westerly, this was all fine. But when the wind slowly started to turn more to the West.. these waves really shook us, and with decreasing winds, it was just so uncomfortable. So as we changed the jib to our larger one, we also got ready for a gybe. But due to circumstances we made it into our first tack of this voyage. Instead of turning the aft of the ship through the wind, we turned the head of the ship through the wind. This way, the mainsail would not loose pressure during a wave and want to crash gybe before we were well and ready. It gave everybody on deck just a little more time to prepare the backstays, sheets, toppinglifts, tommy hunters and preventers. It was fun to do! A new maneuver.

During our regular lazy Sunday we did not do much, made a crosswords together and prepared Sunday roast. We had our regular Sunday beer on the aft and toasted to it hopefully being our last Sunday beer at sea. We said hopefully, but it also felt strange thinking miles were ticking away and days at sea were less and less and less.. Under a week to go.

And then at midnight watch handover, we changed the big jib into the second jib again. And while we were busy we could feel the wind increase and so we reeved the mainsail straight away. Although the direction is not yet what we expected, the wind speed is. Currently its between 22 to 25 knots, we are keeping our speed easily and sometimes a waves takes us for a speedy ride.

The computer tells us 895 miles to go, with a speed of 7,5 towards the goal… Pretty nice.
All is well on board, Jet