Onwards Slowly
25 03 2012 Posted by Daniel
25 MAR 2012 0007 UTC
Winds are getting shifty now in the evening (they tend to do that, even this far offshore, I’ve noticed) but I’ve had a very nice run since about 10 (AM) local time today, clocking several hours of 3-4 knot runs, mostly downwind or on a broad reach with 150% genoa, mainsail, and mizzen staysail set. For some reason adding the mizzen itself kept putting too much weather helm on so I doused it and just went with the staysail.
Wish I could share a picture with you but the slow connection offshore doesn’t let me. You’ll have to wait for pictures to show up when I make port. I’ll show you this cool shark-like fish I saw, and how dramatically the water changes color even 50 NM offshore here (yes, for those of you stuck on the coast not all of the Gulf water is deadly toxic-brown like it is in the bays).
Other than that, it’s been a pretty “chill” day - the forecast is for more of the general same, wind direction varies a bit, wind speed varies a bit, I’ll get lulls, dead calms, some nice breezes, a general smorgasbord of light air practice, it appears. I’m cool with that, considering the alternatives for sure!
Having some fun out here too just generally enjoying the nice weather, gentle breezes, and the sea life. Starting to get a rhythm to the day as well, though I am still working on sleep / eating schedules which I understand is really something unique to each person when offshore. Right now the rule is: eat whenever I think about eating, and sleep whenever I get a nice 30-45 minute block of time (that typically means no big ships on AIS, no rigs visible on the horizon, or if something is visible, that I know my course and possible deviations and that none of them will put me more than halfway the distance in the time I’d sleep).
Well folks, that’s about it. I’m nearly out of VHF range of even the powerful shore stations - I’m only getting snippets of the Coast Guard anymore - so weather updates, email, everything is coming from my SSB radio. I have to note that Farallon Electronics has hooked me up with a demo P4 Dragon Pactor modem which is a spiffy piece of kit that lets me get my email all the way out here using the radio - how cool is that? It’s pretty amazing: I’ll write more about it soon but I have to say right now other than my GPS and my Mac, it is probably one of my favorite pieces of communications gear aboard.
Anyways, that’s all I have for the moment. More soon!
________/)_______
== END ==
Categories : On The WaterWinds are getting shifty now in the evening (they tend to do that, even this far offshore, I’ve noticed) but I’ve had a very nice run since about 10 (AM) local time today, clocking several hours of 3-4 knot runs, mostly downwind or on a broad reach with 150% genoa, mainsail, and mizzen staysail set. For some reason adding the mizzen itself kept putting too much weather helm on so I doused it and just went with the staysail.
Wish I could share a picture with you but the slow connection offshore doesn’t let me. You’ll have to wait for pictures to show up when I make port. I’ll show you this cool shark-like fish I saw, and how dramatically the water changes color even 50 NM offshore here (yes, for those of you stuck on the coast not all of the Gulf water is deadly toxic-brown like it is in the bays).
Other than that, it’s been a pretty “chill” day - the forecast is for more of the general same, wind direction varies a bit, wind speed varies a bit, I’ll get lulls, dead calms, some nice breezes, a general smorgasbord of light air practice, it appears. I’m cool with that, considering the alternatives for sure!
Having some fun out here too just generally enjoying the nice weather, gentle breezes, and the sea life. Starting to get a rhythm to the day as well, though I am still working on sleep / eating schedules which I understand is really something unique to each person when offshore. Right now the rule is: eat whenever I think about eating, and sleep whenever I get a nice 30-45 minute block of time (that typically means no big ships on AIS, no rigs visible on the horizon, or if something is visible, that I know my course and possible deviations and that none of them will put me more than halfway the distance in the time I’d sleep).
Well folks, that’s about it. I’m nearly out of VHF range of even the powerful shore stations - I’m only getting snippets of the Coast Guard anymore - so weather updates, email, everything is coming from my SSB radio. I have to note that Farallon Electronics has hooked me up with a demo P4 Dragon Pactor modem which is a spiffy piece of kit that lets me get my email all the way out here using the radio - how cool is that? It’s pretty amazing: I’ll write more about it soon but I have to say right now other than my GPS and my Mac, it is probably one of my favorite pieces of communications gear aboard.
Anyways, that’s all I have for the moment. More soon!
________/)_______
== END ==
