Pacific Odyssey - Leg 6

We awoke to a glorious day.  The wool underwear made it off and the
first serious sunburn has happened.  At least half of the trainees (mostly
new ones, take note) took a complete bucket shower; in their bathing suits
they shampooed their hair, scrubbed their body, and shaved, using buckets of
salt water for the cleaning and the rinsing.   The water is not warm but the
sun had warmth and felt good on the skin.  Many people dug out their board
shorts and put on sunscreen.  James unfortunately forgot the latter and his
torso is now red and rubbed down in aloe vera; he´s still smiling broadly
though.   In the morning everyone was on deck to raise sail.  The wind had
picked up somewhat, though still gentle, and we raised every fore and aft
sail the Grace carries; it was wonderful.  The main, the fore, the jumbo,
the jib, the main topsail and the fisherman, they were all up.  We sailed
along beautifully for several hours; the motion was very gentle, it was
quiet, the wind was light but all the sails were drawing . . . completely
satisfying . . . another one of those moments we want to remember once we´re
home.   Soon after lunch the clouds started moving in and the sweaters and
long pants were put on again over sunscreened bodies.  The fog moved in and
the air was very damp; you could see it in people´s hair, it either looked
very curly or like it needed to be cleaned.  You can also feel it on your
skin, everything feels quite sticky and clammy, not the nicest feeling when
you are not used to it.  A quick wipe down with fresh water makes you feel
clean again (being clean at sea is often a ´mental´ condition, not so much a
physical one, though one does get somewhat cleaner in salt water).   Sean,
Raven, and Liam helped with unfurling the main topsail and the jib.  Just
before supper the main topsail and the main were lowered and the trysail
went up.  Sean, Gabriel and Liam stowed the topsail.  The topsail is the
highest sail on the ship and unfurling or furling involves putting on a
harness and climbing to the top of the mainmast where the sail is lashed
onto the main topmast.  From here it gets unlashed or stowed.  It gets set
from the deck.  It is very satisfying to do a good furl on the main topsail,
though it takes some practice.  Sara R. and Maddie laced on the trysail and
Susan has taken it upon herself to understand and be able to accomplish the
set up of the trysail sheets and blocks.  She has succeeded.  Every time the
trysail goes up or down, the sheets and two huge blocks need to be taken out
of their box forward of the deck house and dragged to the stern where they
are set up to be used with the trysail.   Right now the engine is on as the
wind has died.  Several knitters have joined the team; James, Leighsa and
Susan were taught to cast on and knit yesterday and are well into their
scarves.  James has cast on his 20 stitches at least four times and is now
very proficient at it.  Gabriel, Keira, and Adam were interrogated in their
watch today; there was a lot of laughing as hilarious details of their lives
were revealed.  Today there have been many very interesting conversations on
board; we are nearly 2 weeks into our crossing, routine has set in, and we
know each other relatively well.  It is easy to find someone to talk to or
to play a round of cards with; this group is very much interested in being
together.  The foc´sle and the hold are wonderful places to be in the
evening; everyone not on watch is there, around a table, playing and
talking, drinking hot drinks and sharing their personal stash (snack food we
provide ourselves).  It is time to put my boys to bed, Simon wanted time to
play just one more round of Sailors Crib with Molly; I will go and get him
now.  Until tomorrow, good-night, Bonice.