Friday 31 July

Friday 31 July
Lat 37*-33'N, Long 042*-02'W
We had six days of really rotten weather, and now, yesterday and today have been some of the best sailing I have ever done. The wind is 15-20 kts and from exactly the right direction to press us on. In addition to that there has been more than a knot of positive current. If the boat is sailing at 6 knots the speed over ground shows as 7 knots, and that is really good for moral.
Yesterday, last night, today, the boat just sails herself, just about straight downwind. People think of sailing as being quiet, but sailing at more than a slow walking speed is really noisy. Right now we are going wing 'n wing downwind. That means the mainsail is out to stbd and the genoa is out to port. When both sails are on the same side the boat leans over and does not roll from side to side. But wing 'n wing the boat rolls, over this way, then over that way, then over this way,then over that way, faster than I can write it, and everything in the boat that is not tied down flops from side to side; hanging clothes, flashlight, flyswatter, safety harness, trash bag, a can of something and a pot in a locker. As the boat goes through the water there is a buzz of a sympatric vibration somewhere, the same in the rigging. But the loudest noise is the bow ploughing through the water, the water swirling down the side and the water foaming over the stern platform. It all blends together in a cacophony that is loud enough so we have to raise our voices to talk. And when the wind blows hare it really gets loud.
The alternative is when there is no wind, no roll, no rushing water sounds, nothing but the engine throbbing slowly, not really very loud at slow speeds.
I like the sailing sounds better.