Ahoy,
What an eventful 24 hours!
Yesterday we hoisted our Code 3 (heavyweight) spinnaker and the bow team told me that a line was twisted at the head of the mast, probably the halyard was twisted. I was at the helm and asked to get our super Bosun, Michael Brien, ready to go aloft and see what happened up there!
Conditions were a bit fruity, like 20-25kts of wind, boat flying at some surfs around 16 knots plus, but Michael is a climber and a bit later he was right up there! Nothing was wrong but he was saying how great it is up there, indeed, seeing the ocean at that speed with a spinnaker up is an incredible view!
The night was lovely, half of it in some moderate visibility and the other half with some stars, a half moon, and some beautiful surfs were done in around 20 knots of boat speed.
Morning came, wind kept rising and it was time to drop the spinnaker. Again, I was at the helm and I thought that the steering cable snapped as I had no control at all, so rapidly I took the leeward helm, my pirates dropped the kite in some +30 knots of wind, which isn't easy, and needed some mental and some muscles. Of course they got it done, that’s my pirates! Not a single scratch!
Now we keep surfing those waves, everybody is smiling, and I think I will get some sleep soon.
Just to finish, I saw a baby Albatross flying with its parents,
so cute. It reminded me of Leg 1, "luff up- LUFF UP - BEAR AWAY- BEAAAAAR
AWAY" that little lad was crashing nearly on every wave, but I am sure on
the next leg he will show his parents how to surf :)
GT out