Pacific Odyssey - Leg 6

The wind increased today and is very slowly moving to the north; our
course is heading more easterly, which is what we want.  Skipper is still
hoping for the wind to go more northerly so we can travel on a course due
east until about 165 longitude, when we would head south towards Hawaii.
The seas have increased and there is some pitching and wear on the ship and
its rigging.  Watch officers spent their watches constantly monitoring the
jib and the seas that were coming over the sides, judging when and if the
jib should come down.  The jib was lowered during Sarah´s 0800-1200 watch
with Sophie, James, and Will out on the whisker shrouds furling it onto the
bowsprit.  The bowsprit dipped low into the water several times, getting the
furlers wet to their armpits.  They did a good job and were exhilarated by
it.  During Antony´s 1200-1600 watch the jib was raised, and then again,
just before dark in Jose´s 1600-2000 watch it was lowered again when the
bowsprit was going under too often.  This time Jose asked, "Okay, who wants
to get wet?" and quickly 3 hands went up; Elske, Liam and Blake put on rain
gear, took off down coats, donned harnesses (both night harnesses and
climbing harnesses), and climbed out onto the whisker shrouds and furled the
jib.  We have a great crew.   At the moment we have a reefed main, a
foresail and a jumbo up and we are pointing as high into the wind as we can.
Progress is slow, about 3 knots.  Jose´s watch has started ´Show and Tell,´
with every watch member presenting an issue, topic, story, poem etc.   This
happens at lunch and at supper; so far the discussions have been on climate
change and the legalization of certain drugs, both very interesting and
challenging.  Yesterday we hauled in a piece of decomposing plastic on our
fishing line; it brought two small crabs onto our deck, pets for Jacob,
Noah, and Simon.  There were 6 albatross swaying back and forth across the
stern of the ship today, very beautiful.  Jacob has been doing some
leatherwork and finished making himself a sheath for his knife today.  James
has made a beautiful start on a sailor´s palm, also out of leather.  Arwen
gave Skipper the final installment of a cache of chocolate bars Stephen Duff
sent her in Guam.   She has been portioning them out slowly and deliberately
at opportune times or when needed.  For the wrapping on the chocolate bar,
she did a beautiful sketch of a branch with blossoms, giving color only to
the blossoms and keeping the rest in black ink.   After dishes tonight Arwen
served ´eatmores´ she had made yesterday and put to stiffen in the freezer
overnight; they´re made of cocoa, honey, peanut butter, and a mixture of
almonds, coconut and peanuts . . . delicious.   For supper tonight Raven,
Gillian and I made chapattis.  Gillian made the dough, Raven rolled it into
chapattis (Gillian rolled some too), and I fried them on the stove top.  It
was fun doing it together in the galley, and everyone enjoyed them with rice
and a pork stew Gillian had made.  Our daily life on this ship continues as
normal; our little community has found its routine and we try not to think
of where we are going or when we will get there.  The sky is clear and the
moon is getting fuller.  It is quite beautiful to be on deck.  Sophie wishes
her dad a great birthday today, April 15th.  Happy Birthday dad, love Soph.
Until tomorrow, good-night, Bonice.