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The weather has
improved dramatically. I didn't do any writing on the computer for
so many days because it was so rough all we could do was to hang on
and try to rest between jobs. When it is rough sleep is difficult
and you fall asleep for brief interludes just to be awakened again
by the roll and pitch of the boat.
Having
five of us aboard has been a blessing as night watches are only three
hours and I don't stand a watch at all.
My chores have
been in the galley. We have eaten three meals a day on most days and
my creativity is being stretched to the limit to come up with things
that are possible to cook and easy to eat. I have baked bread every
day and the bread maker is working like a champ so far. I wish we
had gotten less frozen food to be cooked and more ready prepared dishes
but we are doing well and these guys are appreciative and easy to
please which makes my job tolerable.
We spent
over a thousand dollars to get our big water maker repaired in Lanzarote
and it was working so well, putting out about seventeen gallons per
hour, until it blew a high pressure hose. Charlie has ordered the
part and we hope our next crew will be bringing it when they come.
Charlie and Bob have worked with the small water maker and gotten
it to work and we are keeping the water tank topped off so we will
have enough water
to make it if everything shuts down. Our diesel consumption has been
minimal and we still carry over three quarters of a tank.
We are flying
our Multi
Purpose Sail (MPS---like a spinnaker) and have flown it now for over
twenty-four
hours straight. It is a big sail and should the weather change fast
we have to be able to pull it down quickly. This sail requires a lot
of deck work
and it is certainly better to have an adequate crew to handle it.
In light air Charlie and I can use the sail but we are pushing the
limit now, flying this sail in winds which are high for a sail of
this type. Tonight we will probably take this balloon down, but for
right now the ride is good and we move at between six and seven knots
toward our destination.
Until
later, Sea Gem crossing the Atlantic,
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