We got through the Gulf Stream about sunrise this morning, and immediately our track went back to almost west. During the night the current carried us as high as 330 degrees; the current offset was as much as 50 degrees. We came out in just about the location we wanted and now we are on a fair course to Beaufort Inlet, with an eta of 19:00. I am looking forward o a nice easy ending to this adventure.
The major characteristic to this crossing was that , until this morning, we were hard on the wind, a really close reach, almost beating. We were sailing as close to the wind as we could and still keep up some boat speed. When he boat is sailing this close to he wind, inside the cabin everything is leaning over 20 degrees, and with the boat sailing into he waves there is a sudden, jerky, unpredictable, radical hobby-horse motion. You have to walk at an extreme angle holding on with both hands to keep from getting tossed across the cabin. Sleeping you are mashed up against he side of he bunk, and only one position is possible. Outside the cabin you have to put up with the same motion except you are seated, not trying o move around. There is constant spray with only one place that is mostly protected in which to sit. The salt spray makes everything gritty, especially between your fingers. Just like the iron men who sailed wooden ships, after awhile you just live with it. It is picturesque, the boat heeling before the breeze, spray flying, but nobody likes beating into he wind. "Gentlemen don't sail to weather". Well we had to. Except for the past few days it was mostly an uncomfortable passage. But it is finishing good, and that is what everybody remembers. The last few days has been beautiful, and to make it perfect we had a full moon. In good sailing conditions, sailing at night under a full moon is stunningly beautiful.
The entire adventure has been a blessing to me. Sailing out with Will, the America's Cup, helping Lindsay start her new life, and sailing back with Jeremiah, I give thanks.
We have had few failures on the trip. The most bothersome is he failure of he "T" key on the computer remote keyboard. I now have to go back and, using he computer itself which is up on a shelf, add in all the "Ts" that didn't print. I did not realize before now that "T" is the second most used letter in he english language.
If, after 800 nautical miles at sea, that is all I have to complain about, it was a successful trip. Thank you Jeremiah. Thank you Marian for giving him to me to share this adventure.
And thank you Normandie, for a wonderful, wonderful experience.
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II
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