Dec 10th 2017
Happy Happy Birthday Sammi
Big day today - we have a birthday child onboard. While Sammy went back to
have a little sleep after the early watch we started to decorate the boat a
little bit for her birthday. Lyss baked a tasty chocolate wave cake (as I
am not allowed to bake anything anymore on a boat after one almost on fire
and one cake actually on fire on the last crossings) and Nicole drew up a
creative birthday card. As we are kind of a gourmet crew, with Francesca
as our titled Master Chef, I set to prepare a beautiful lunch. Salmon (we
did not catch that here in the middle of the Atlantic) with boat-grown
sprouted rocket and Philadelphia lemon crostini, accompanied by a healthy
Feta Tomatoes and basilicum salad, also grown on the boat by Master
Gardener Sammi.
Sammi, who has been suffering from sea sickness the whole trip, for once
has great day, feels good, and eats her birthday meal and cake! (Sarah-
she did not open her present until today, it looks great on her!) Beautiful
weather, finally good wind, nice food, and some great stars. Happy birthday
may all your wishes come true.
Thalita
Dec 11th 2017
What to wear while sailing
When you are about to cross the Atlantic, you know you need foul weather
gear, a red light head torch, a sleeping bag, your tool, boots/sailing
shoes, a lifejacket etc… but you would be surprised how many experienced
sailors ask “what should I bring to wear?”
So you put together the joining instructions and send them off to the crew
before the trip, and there! first thing they ask, again, even if it is
detailed down to the very last pair of underwear. If you are wondering,
this is not just women. Any delivery trip, same thing.
Finally, really, how long does it take to get some wind, we have some great
breeze. Since yesterday we have a constant 20-25kts of wind and a steady 3m
swell from more or less astern and once in awhile a bigger one, making for
some interesting speed competitions (by the way it does not count if you go
11.8kn, even with a reef in, if you are off course!)
Great sailing, constant sunshine, so it is definitely getting warmer every
day. Everybody is happy about the weather.
This said, we have had several wardrobe transmutations the first two weeks-
Week 1, while we were sailing upwind with 27-30 kn of wind:
Daytime: long warm merino layer top and bottom, usually light pants on top,
supersocks, vest and the jacket if it is cloudy
Nighttime: long warm merino layer below, supersocks, vest/sweater, foul
weather gear/ the jacket - and a hat
Week 1, while we were becalmed - don’t ask, no wind, as in 0.00kn:
Daytime: pants/ 3/4 length layer, running t-shirts, slowly undressing as
the day warmed up more
Bikinis for swimming while becalmed… and then quickly clothes on
again
Nighttime: long merino warm layer below, supersocks, the jacket
Week 2: finally getting some wind -woo hoo sometimes it is 10kn!, but
getting warmer
Daytime: shorts, t-shirts.. and bikinis!
Nighttime: 3/4 length layer, long sleeves and the jacket
(underwear… to each their own, you should see our bucket laundry, full
selection available!)
Lyssandra