A faster point of sail
A grey early morning brings veering winds from a more southerly to a more southwesterly.
At dawn, hands are called on deck to pull on braces to Beam Reach from the Close Hauled we have been sailing the last couple of days. A faster point of sail, a good strong fair wind, it all pulls us at a good speed, 6,7,8 over the 9kn we reach at times.
The blows and passing squalls get stronger in the afternoon, the swell grows a bit as well. When the wind meter shows gusts over the 30kn we gather hands on deck to strike Royals and Middle Staysails.
In the meantime, below decks, the ship’s library has become a life-jacket workshop (as they are all being checked) and a sailmaking loft mending the Main Top Gallant staysail.
The Pacific, the largest Ocean in our planet, where one can take countless courses to steer, where weather systems dance on a play of differences on atmospheric pressures, airs rising or falling, temperature gradients, where the swell travels far and can grow to impressive heights. Even here we find ourselves this evening crossing the very same path we took two years ago, when the ship sailed a similar voyage from New Zealand and around Cape Horn.
Another day of great sailing, when we left behind 155 nautical miles, gradually closing up to The Horn which lays 3983 miles in straight line from us.
