37’14.8S 046’33,5W course 188′ speed 7,8kn
This morning around 09:00 board time, we were able to set sail and start sailing again! We started off under full sail, with the second jib. During the afternoon we reefed the mainsail to the first reef as we had some showers around and were doing 8,5 knots downwind anyway. The reefing was timed very fortunate, as I had just finished a talk / workshop on sail handling on board the Tecla. With a downwind run I showed how we trim our sails, what sail angle we can handle and the basic principle of reefing. And just as we got to where we pull up the halliards again, a big dark cloud on our forward portside quarters showed up.. It looked like it could be passing in front, but it could also be developing and become bigger, so we did not take a risk. Thinking of reefing, is reefing.
And so, in record time, as everybody fully understood what to do, we reefed the mainsail and eased out the sheet again, within 15 minutes! Well done team!!
Picture of the day was won by Jasmijn with a watch selfie, always a good choice! The runner up is of the sun setting last night, when all the sails were still down, and the great big ocean, was like a pond.
The wind has been steady since this afternoon, a strong breeze, force 5bf from the North North East. We can hold our course South easily, our course to the Falkland Islands is not always possible, as the sails cover each other on the downwind bit, we should be doing 208 degrees over the ground, and are only able to squeeze 193 degrees out of it. We have also gone from the 4 digit distance to arrival, to a 3 digit, only 990 miles to on the course line. We all agree that these are numbers we start to understand. The 4400 miles before this, are such a big number, it is hard to comprehend what that means. You just accept that it will take a long time, and how long, well, you’ll see. But 990 miles is a lot more ‘comprehendable’. We still have to see how much time it will take us to get to the Falkland Islands, lots can happen in between. But for now, we are on an amazing run!!
Yesterday was also Friday the 13th, I am not sure how you faired at home, but we saw no black cats, did not walk underneath any ladders and were able to get through the day without any strange things going wrong. Which was very comforting when the day was done, for a superstitious sailor like myself.
We are all well on board,
Jet
