Pacific Odyssey - Leg 6

The swell has come down in the night and the motion is now quite
comfortable, a gentle rolling over long even ocean swells.  The wind has
been light yet we have been able to sail for most of the day.  After
breakfast the ´all hands on deck´ call was given by Antony and an eager
group of trainees came up to help lower the trysail and raise the mainsail
and the jib.  Maddie unlashed the line holding down the jib onto the
bowsprit.  This means putting on a harness, having it checked by a watch
officer, and then clipping  onto a jack line under the bowsprit before
climbing over the rail and into the whiskers; it´s an exciting place to be
and it is fun to be involved in sail handling in this way.  Once the 4 lower
sails were up, Liam and Elske climbed the mainmast to unlash the main
topsail and then it too was set.  The topsail is used in lighter winds and
it makes quite a difference in a light wind; we moved along nicely for the
better part of the day at about 7 knots.   It was actually a lovely day to
be on deck; there was some warmth but the woolen underwear is still on, as
are the down jackets, fleece coats and wind breaker/rain coats.  The Pacific
Grace moved over the water so gracefully, slightly heeled to port, with a
gentle up-and-down motion over the swells; one of the days we want to
remember.  Molly and Susan were up in the bow doing push-ups and yoga,
Gabriel washed his hair with the bucket.  We are heading north again after
the storm and the water feels colder, as does the air.  Just before supper
the wind slackened and we lowered the main.  Everyone did a fantastic job
furling it.  Sarah B. and port watch were on watch to lower the main and
were ably helped by Diane and Raven and several other trainees from fore and
starboard watch.  We raised the trysail with Maddie, Blake, and Adam
climbing onto the main gaff to lace the sail onto the main mast.  Again,
this is a fun and exciting way to be involved with the sail handling.  The
crew is thrilled with how eager the trainees are to learn and how willing
they are to help and come when help is called for.  The engine has just been
turned on and it is raining.  Mid-afternoon the crew got together to meet
and chat.  They opened up the ´care package´ given to them by Heidi and John
Hedley and enjoyed the toffee, chocolate and tea.  Thank you very much, it
all tasted so good.  Antony read to us from Malcolm Muggeridge´s book
´Something Beautiful for God,´ a fantastic book about Muggeridge´s personal
visit with Mother Teresa.   Some of the other books that are being read on
deck are:  The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John
Irving, The Einstein Reader, several Patrick O´Brien books, Oryx and Crake
by Margaret Atwood, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, The Long Walk by
Slavomir Rawicz, A Passage to India by E.M. Forster, The Alchemist by . . .
, Grey Seas Under by Farley Mowat, and Atonement by Ian McEwan.  There are
many, many more; these are just a few I can remember seeing as I sit here
making my log notes.  Tonight after dishes we enjoyed Susan´s birthday
cookies baked by Becca and Arwen.  Yesterday was a busy day in the galley
for Gillian so the birthday baking was put off until today.  They were
delicious and just what Susan requested.  The past few evenings the hold has
been an amazing place to be.  There are several card games going on as well
as Catan and some other games; there is a great feeling of camaraderie and
fun.  The trainees on watch at night have had wonderful hours of chatting
around the wheel, laughing, singing etc.  The Grace is a good place to be.
Gillian would like to wish her sister Jennifer lots of love on her birthday
April 4th.  Happy Birthday Jennifer from Gillian.  Jordan would like to wish
his brother Jean Marc an amazing day on his birthday, also April 4th.  Happy
Birthday Jean Marc from Jordan.   Will would like to wish his sister Ellan
good luck in the Olympic Trials which are happening soon.  Good luck to
Ellan from all of us.  This is it for now, until tomorrow, good-night,
Bonice.