Bobbing Like a Cork

07/22/02

    Before happy hour yesterday, we raised the main with a double reef and set the preventer for wing-and-wing.  We left the staysail up, but sheeted it flat amidships to provide stability.  We are still bobbing like a cork, as the surrounding swells are sizable, and hitting us from behind, rocking the boat back and forth.  If you watch the inclinometer, you will see it alternate from 15 degrees on one side to 20 degrees on the other side, back to 20 degrees on the  first side,  on and on. 

    This is quite different from the movement we experience when close-hauled.  When we’re on a tack, either port or starboard tack, the angle of heel is at least consistent one way or another, so if you set something down you have a good idea which direction it will roll.  When running, you don’t know from one second to the next which heel you’re on, so you’re constantly balancing things.  I suppose it is good for my muscle tone, as my body is constantly fighting gravity, even as I sit here writing.

    We are making good time, though.  As of this morning, I reported to Sue on the Iridium that we are 451 miles from our destination, and are right on the Tropic of Cancer.  It seems a little cool for being in the tropics, but I won’t complain.  The water temperature is around 62 degrees but we are seeing a lot more flying fish.

    We had movie night last night, with a showing of “High Noon”, a classic western which was targeted by the  movie “Blazing Saddles”.