| Day 886 In the Blue, Where to? |
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| Friday, 25 September 2009 | |
 Day 886 - September 25, 2009 Wind E,5 knots, Course NW, Speed 1 Knot, Position 10*46n by 22*11w In the Blue, Where to? We are in between the giant weather wheels of the North and South Atlantic. The N Atlantic wheel of wind and current turns clockwise around the ocean. The S Atlantic wheel turns counter clockwise. The tropical Trade winds of the N and S Atlantic blow from E to W. My plan coming into this area was to stay in the variables behind these relentless forces. I figured that the spin off winds coming down from the N and up from the S would meet in calmer weather with smaller waves and less current. This has been the case and I have greatly enjoyed it. The wind has generally been light from somewhere out of the W. We have been tacking downwind back and forth taking the favorable slant to the W. We should soon meet up with the NE Trades that blow across the Atlantic, but we will turn away as we are not yet ready to enter them. We are in our first E wind today so we must be getting close to the steady trades. Today we can go N or S - it doesn't matter. I believe the wind will still come from the W again; then perhaps we will let it blow us E. We go where the winds and currents take us and live in sympathy with the sea in a timeless thoughtless, free, state like the fish and birds that follow us. If we turn to the N or the S, the fish don't seem to care, they follow us along. Today I was standing in a bucket by the rail doing my laundry by foot when a big marlin swam out from under the boat. Behind him two big green bullhead Mahi were followed closely by what looked like all of our cobia and we must have 30 of these four foot fish with us now. Fluttering away in the midst of them was a gaggle of triggerfish. They all passed and then a little deeper a big school of two foot tuna followed the action. I am always thrilled and never tire of looking into the blue. Meanwhile I'm still busy rebuilding pulleys. I have almost 80 of them in use and they get a lot of wear and tear. The big #1 mainsail is spread out in the sail temple and I spend time every day sewing away. I put a cup of Clorox in each of the water tanks to keep the algae from growing. I am trying to work only half a day, so I can rest up and pursue my painting. This has given me great joy and I feel like I am following my destiny. |
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