Position: 06 degrees, 49 minutes south; 147 degrees, 59 minutes west
Just another stunning day. Could use a touch more wind, but we’re rolling along at 5 to 6 knots with 10 or so knots of wind so can’t really complain. Hardly any clouds all last night, today and now this evening. Ann and I just spent half an hour sitting on the cabin looking out over the ocean watching the full moon rise. Just beautiful.
So…JHam, your comment yesterday comparing food selection on Charisma with that of “sailors of yore” was classic! We were in hysterics rolling on the cabin floor. Further to that, I guess the British Royal Navy would frown on tonight’s proposed fare: Smoked salmon on a toasted crouton with cream cheese, beetroot chutney and home grown sprouts.
I should ask the yacht Arnementia what real British sailors would say about this. Is it hard tack, spotted dick and a glass of port to toast the queen or does Jon (an exemplar of the Royal Yacht Squadron if there ever was one) secretly yearn for cream puffs, French cheese and a glass of chardonnay whilst on passage? What say you?
On to other business. It’s now 0400 on my watch. Could tonight actually be perfection? If not, it’s actually about as close as you can get. It’s a balmy and very comfortable 75 degrees Fahrenheit right now. There’s a stunning full moon illuminating our path – so no lights required to move around. The sea is softly whispering to me as Charisma effortlessly slides due north through the night. There’s just enough, and not too much, wind to push us gently along at a comfortable pace. Pinch me!
And, a surprise meeting at around 1300 today at 07 degrees south and 148 degrees west. We sighted another sailboat! Over a period of a couple hours we caught up with them and they eventually closed the final mile with us by sailing over to say “hello”. In the middle of the south pacific. Cool. Keely and Nate on the Hans Christian 33, “Insouciance” from Canada were on board. They are bound from Bora Bora to Hawaii. Whereas we’re looking to cross the equator between 147 and 148 west, they are headed more east to around 142, so after chatting a bit across the water, they “sheeted back in” and our paths diverged. What a nice surprise.
Is that another boat on the horizon?
Turned out to be a nice Canadian couple on the Hans Christian 33
One may dream, but one’s experience is that nowadays that one just can’t get the staff! We’ll run smoked salmon and cream puffs past the RYS head chef when we are next back at the Castle in Cowes and see if it supplants Kedgeree off the breakfast menu. As an aside, all things being well, we’ll be off to Fiji on Monday. In the freezer will be Goulash, Ginger, Sesame and Lime Pork and Chicken Masala (all homemade) – that’s for Jon, Carol will be occasionally nibbling on ginger biscuits and crisps! Take care, you two and keep enjoying the moon and stars.
Sounds like you are on the Great Moonbeam ocean path. You’re certainly not in Kansas anymore. And let us hope the path stays this cushy all the way in.
How exciting to see that other sail in all that expanse of water, water everywhere. Who was the lucky one who got to shout, “Sail ho on the port quarter!” Then who grabbed the telescope to see what flag she flew? Kinda cool you are both headed to the same place.
Sail on, sail on sailors…..