A few times, I mentioned phosphorescence visible in the water at night. I
should have called it bioluminescence. There may be phosphorescence
involved in the light generation, but 1) there may not and 2) even if there
is, that isn't really the salient point. This has been gnawing at me.
*************
It continues to surprise me how quickly conditions change here. One watch
we started with just the slightest breeze from behind us, playing with
trim, trying to eke out an extra 0.1 knot of boat speed. Within a few short
hours, the wind had eased further, fluttered around a bit, picked back up
from ahead, and built to the point where were were taking in the third reef
with a real sense of urgency. Another day, we started watch bashing upwind
through waves, cold, and rain but by the end we had beautiful, sunny,
downwind sailing. Someone said this was due to the lack of land at these
latitudes, with the uninterrupted ocean making the weather move faster. We
shall see if it settles down as we move north.
***************
I got my first work at the mast yesterday. NOT, I hasten to add, anything
like climbing the mast to the top. As much as I'd like check out that view
at some point, that job generally goes to people who are, shall we say,
easier to winch up. Still, there is a lot of action at the base of the mast
and the boom, working with lines, especially as we reef in and out, i.e.
partially lowering or raising the mainsail. Your feet are off the deck at
bit, and as the boat heels over, you can look straight down and see the
water rushing past. Fun stuff.
****************
I was on deck as we sighted mainland Australia today. There was an actual
call of "Land ho!" Saw a few spectacular looking isolate beaches that I'll
have to research and visit someday. Maybe. When Tony joked about anchoring
off there and having our own private beach, Matt's answer was "There's got
to be a reason nobody's there."
*****************
Special "Hey" to the gentlemen, ladies, and Sumo of Hampstead Rugby Club on
the day of the Carol Crawl. First one I've missed since joining the club.
Have a good one.
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