Pacific Odyssey - Leg 6

We have had a good day; spirits have been lifted.  The wind switched
direction twice during Antony´s 0400-0800 watch giving his trainees a lot of
sail handling; they raised the courses and lowered the foresail and the
jumbo.  At 0900 the wind died altogether and all sails but the trysail were
lowered and the engine was turned on.  The sun has come out, our movement
forward provides the only feeling of wind, and the waves are soft-topped,
they no longer have wild, sharp, windy edges to them.  There are no waves
slapping the hull and sending gallons of water over the ship.  There remains
a large ocean swell causing the ship to roll side-to-side, but relative to
the motion of the past few days, we´ll take it.  Emma is on the wheel and
just commented on how she thought she felt no motion until she looked up and
saw the masts moving in wide arcs across the moon in a dark sky.   This
morning Skipper pulled out a chart of our passage and explained how our
progress looks so far and how weather systems have made it what it was.  He
also showed what has been forecasted and how he sees us moving through it to
Hawaii.  He is very hesitant about saying how many days it may take us . . .
10, 14 . . . ?  He praised trainees and crew on their continued willingness
to help out with sail handling and being there when needed, acknowledging
that it hasn´t been easy physically or emotionally the past few days for
anyone.  He encouraged everyone to try to live in the moment, to make the
most of our remaining days, and to help each other.  The weather looks good
for the next 4 or 5 days, but things can change so quickly, as we know.   It
was good to hear Skipper talk; everyone´s mood has been lifted.   Jose
pulled out canvas and several trainees have begun sewing ditty bags by hand;
Blake, Sophie, Sara R., Liam, Raven, Leanne, Emma, and Jose. In sewing a
ditty bag, you learn a good number of sail makers techniques; it´s a great
project and useful when it´s finished.   Susan finished her scarf, it
measures just over 6ft; she is wearing it proudly.  Molly finished her hat
and it too looks good.   It was a morning for deck showers; James, Molly,
Sophie, Sarah B., Emma, Sara R., Adam, Blake, Katie, Kaitlyn, Will, Susan  .
. . they all braved the cold water to get clean.  It makes an incredible
difference on one´s outlook.   James and Leanne took their bed sheets up on
deck to air them and several trainees did laundry; it was hanging all over
makeshift lines in the bow.  Chris took a chance and did his jeans, hoping
the heat of the sun would dry them in time.  Sara R. called anyone
interested in yoga to join her in the bow.   Everyone was very industrious;
there is a positive feeling on the ship again.  It was so wonderful for
everyone to spend the entire day on deck in the warmth of the sun reading,
writing, talking, standing watch, sewing, peeling potatoes, knitting etc.
We watched a beautiful sunset, one of the first, and felt a deep dampness in
the evening air, reminiscent of our evenings in the tropics, just colder.
There were some stars initially, they may return later tonight.  I would
like to wish my mom and dad a wonderful time together, celebrating the day
they got married 48 years ago; I´m so glad they did.  Until tomorrow,
good-night, Bonice.