10°46.1S 095°32.2W | Course 355° | Speed 7.3kn
The wind is softening its grip. What started as a week of squalls and strong breezes has shifted—gradually—into something quieter. Still, the weather plays with us. Pockets of dark clouds sweep in unexpectedly, wrapping us in showers before revealing bright skies once again. At night, the stars feel close enough to touch, a canopy of light stretched over a restless sea.
Around 04:00 this morning, during watch handover, we shook out the reef in the mainsail. It had served us well through the gusts, but the time had come to ease up and open canvas. Later in the afternoon, we did the same with the mizzen—we kept it in for easy steering, but ended up wanting more speed.
There’s always that quiet debate: shall we hoist the topsails? The temptation is strong. But each time we consider it, a gust rolls in or a squall appears on the horizon, and we wait. Better to be patient than to be caught out.
We’re now sailing north, waiting for our moment to gybe and head west once more. The ocean temperature is rising—we’re now floating on a warm bath of 21°C water. And with that warmth comes life. Flying fish abound. Every deck round is an opportunity to spot one, though often we’re too late. During the unreefing of the mainsail, we found several scattered across the deck, already giving off that unmistakable scent.
This afternoon, we shifted the clocks again—now running on UTC-6. Below decks, the warmth is creeping in. The telltale sign? Our colourful tropical curtains have returned, hung across doorways to keep a breeze flowing while still offering a bit of privacy.
Lisa held a COLREGS lesson today—rules of the road for sailors. Discussions about vessels under sail, those restricted in ability to manoeuvre, and the eternal question: who gives way to whom?
Up here, we give way to the wind. And right now, it’s guiding us gently forward.
All is well on board, Jet
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