January 31, 2005

Yesterday was the first day we did not have to run the engine to keep the boat 
going in a forward motion....I exaggerate, but that is how it felt!!  We put 
the engine on around 4 zulu time to fill the batteries!!!  We have the 
refrigerator, freezer, auto-pilot, water-marker and computer going and they all 
take energy!!!

Today was our best day so far....168 nm!!!  The only downer was that the moon 
is rising after my watch and it is very, very dark without it.  However, I can 
see more stars!!!



February 1st

It seems when the sun sets, the wind picks up and when the sun rises the winds 
change direction.  We put the engine on again only to fill our batteries.  We 
had another good sailing day and went 146 nm.

Tonight while I was alone on my watch at 11:15 zulu, I saw something 
unusual!!!  All at once the sky lit up behind me.  As I turned around, I saw 
what appeared to be a satellite falling to earth.  Then what came next is what 
I can only describe as a cascade of about 10-12 smaller satellites falling to 
the earth.  As they were falling, one bright light flew into the cascade of 
lights and exploded them all.  The sky lit up all around me and after a minute, 
I heard a boom!!!  I called Rudy, but by the time he reached the cockpit, the 
sky was dark again.  This really freaked me out!!!!  I assumed it was a Naval 
exercise, but I didn't want them to do it again over my boat!!!

Nothing did happen again and no other boats in the area noticed it........


February 2nd

Another great sailing day going about 148 nm. with all the sails flying!! 
However, when it came to my watch, things went crazy again.  First the winds 
went from south to north so I had to change all three sails.  Thank goodness 
Shawn was still awake.  She and I pulled in the jib and the staysail and pulled 
them out again.  We pulled the main sail over to the other side.  Oh, I forgot 
to tell you, it was pouring and you couldn't see your hand in front of your 
face!!!  I turned on the radar to see the storm and to see if there we any 
boats around us.  The storm was very local and no other boats in sight!!!  Then 
the wind slowly died down to nothing and so we had to turn the engine on.  I 
was happy to be off watch tonight.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring???


February 3rd

We had the engine on all night and turned it off at 10:30 the next morning.  
Shortly after that Shawn caught a fish!!  Rudy took it off the hook, fillet it 
and cleaned. Jon took a picture and I poured rum down his mouth (it kills the 
fish quicker) and cooked it.  What a team!!! To celebrate I cooked a pineapple 
cake!!!

We were still running the engine on my watch until just before I was done.  
The winds picked up so I woke Rudy, Shawn and Jon to put up the sails wing on 
wing in the dark!!  Wing on wing is when you put one sail up like the main on 
one side of the boat and secure it to that side of the boat and put another 
sail like the jib on the opposite side and secure it.  This meant that Rudy and 
Jon needed to take up the pole that was secured on deck and put it on the jib 
sheet and then I secured the topping line. I went back into the cockpit and 
eased the jib sheet out while Shawn pulled out the jib sheet.  Meanwhile, Rudy 
and Jon had to maneuver the pole in the correct position and secure it with two 
lines.   A piece of cake!!!!! Especially in the dark and the boat is rocking 
and bouncing on 4-5 foot waves!!!

Oh...I can't wait until tomorrow!!!