Captain's Log

March 19, 2002

Into the 7th day of the Qualifier to the canaries.

Just a short update this time from 31.48 North and 40.33 W or approximately 1250 nm east of Bermuda.
 
Today is Day 7 and we have just passed the halfway point on the passage to Las Palmas in the Canaries ( We is me and the boat !! ) 1250 nm behind and the same to go.
 
The first two days were slow and hard going as the wind was from the direction I was headed and the sea state was very lumpy. 10 - 15 feet. For the first time in years I was seasick, which did not help the process of getting into the rhythm. That is all passed now and although the wind remains moderate at 16 - 22 kts its from the NW and that is a great direction. Sea state still large, approximately 15 feet with some bigger. Interesting thing about the sea height is that it is all out of proportion with the wind strength, which in past 24 hours has not peaked past 27 kts, but there are stronger breezes to the north and the building seas are headed right where I am.
 
So settling in ?? Sort of. BTC Velocity is a handful in that it just skips along with the slightest of effort; however, we are therefore bouncing and bashing through these seas. Meals are great. The freeze dried Lasagna I just had for lunch was great, no really it was !! Miss my family and friends, but trying to stay focused on this adventure. Sleeping well, even if one hand appears always to be holding on to something as we bounce along. Had a little excitement on Sunday night when a Frontal Passage came through and the winds peaked out at 36 kts. I had too much sail up and we were laid flat for a few minutes. As always when you need to do something like reduce sail quickly there is an impediment of some sort. Well in the middle of this blast of air a line became tangled at the mast, luckily the bottom of the mast, so I was having to deal with this in quite wild conditions.
 
This is meant to be a work up for the Around Alone Race so I might as well get the full compliment of weather and experiences !! I am not going to go looking for not so good ones mind you !!!

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