A Good Day

Position: 29 degrees, 40 minutes south; 165 degrees, 47 minutes west Only a 99 mile day

Near bliss.

The wind lightening in the early morning to about 10 knots and we still had the storm sails up, so Charisma was very underpowered. At the watch change at 0230 local, we decided to put the mainsail back up. It was the first time we’ve had it up in a couple days and it was furled, packed and tied up tight for the gale, so getting it back in action on a rolling deck, in the dark wasn’t a trivial exercise (these things are always needed “in the dark”, aren’t they?). Anyway, down the storm sails and up the main! For now we’re just leaving the storm sails tied down on the deck. We’ll do the clean-up in the daylight.

Right now (about 0330) we’re on a very broad reach with a full main and jib. There’s massive “star-age”, 10 knots of gentle wind and not a light (or anything for that matter) on the horizon within a thousand miles. There’s still a bit of a residual swell for this amount of wind so it’s a bit rolly, but from time to time we get into one of those quiet, blissful grooves where Charisma is steady, you look up and can feel the wind gently caress your face and in the background is the zen garden-like sound of water peacefully burbling by the hull. If this isn’t bliss…

Hard to believe that the ocean was "snarling" just a day or so ago.

Speaking of lights, the compass light LED that allows us to see our course at night is going into failure mode. One the two LED lights inside has gone out. You can still see half the card, but the other half is very faint. I have a parts list on board and found the part number and will try and get it shipped to Tahiti. I would order it now, but the parts list doesn’t have an email on it. There’s always something to fix. If this thing goes completely out I might have to reprise the famous “Collinator Mark II” compass light that we created on the Transpac when our light went out on Shanti. Remember that Jon Eberly? This version will have to be modified though to be a binnacle instead of bulkhead mount.

All in all though, a mostly nice day. A few squalls, two cockpit showers (and a shave) and a couple more albatross sightings. Really now, what more can you ask for? Well, Sockdolager Muffins to be exact. Ann made a dozen of them today. You can’t imagine both how delicious they are and how hard it is to make them – all the ingredients, mixing, rising, rolling, cooking – on a rocking rolling boat. Wow, but worth it. And a special extra treat, she found some Barker’s Apricot Preserves. New Zealand’s finest and some of the best in the world! Oh yes, it was a good day on board Charisma.

A squall and a rainbow.

2 thoughts on “A Good Day

  1. If there’s a telephone # for the part, I can google it for you and hopefully there’s a website associated with the number, including a contact email. let me know!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


4 + three =