Tuesday, November 8th

8th Day at Sea

Fun Day on the High Seas

Captain Ron, Scott lands a mahi-mahi, and the sail handling gets out of hand.

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Log

 

 

 

Journal

12a-3a. Winds are variable, speed and direction. The autopilot was engaged. Bertha couldn’t keep up with variation. Wind died to 0 with Molly & me in the cockpit. Molly called for Baxter to help bring in sails and start motoring. As soon as Baxter’s head popped into the hatchway, the wind returned. When the wind dropped, the apparent wind angle dropped from 120 to 140°, the sails flogged. I’d hand steer to 90° apparent, bringing us to 080-090° per ship’s compass, until the wind returned. 

Morning. 

Damn, what a morning. We’re motoring in light wind. We talked movies and learn that Scott’s not seen Captain Ron. With a little thinking, out comes the laptop, powered by a battery pack, blue tooth speaker, solar powered, and Captain Ron is on. After the movie, Bx asks whether we should try to fly the spinnaker. Ya mon. At this moment in the discussion, the rod begins singing. Scott lands a nice mahi-mahi with Baxter on the side deck. It’s filleted on the side deck. We clean up and we’re back to ya mon, lets fly the spinnaker. Scott & Baxter, sweating, wrestle the spinnaker from under the aft berth. An asymmetrical in a sock. Bx & S unbag and work on the halyard. I run the sheet and set up the barber hauler. Molly at the helm. The package is raised to the mast top. All ready. Motor to ½ speed. Molly steering by hand. Bx and Scott raise the sock and I haul in the sheet. She flies! No twists. So cool, the Terrapin logo flying for the 1st time. Go Pro and photos galore. 3k under light wind. Pop, the tack block explodes. That’s okay. The wind’s building and it’s a little dark behind us. I ease off on the sheet. Molly steers the boat under the spinnaker and Bx & Scott lower the sock and then the entire rig. We breach boat rules and toast to a round of Sierra Nevadas. 

Afternoon. Can’t stop the sail handling. Moved the dinghy forward, set the pole and set up wing on wing. Carried the rig thru the night through 20-25 kts true direct down wind.

 

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Photos