Pacific Odyssey - Leg 7

Today was a great day for sail handling and enjoying each others company
on deck.   Last night was a difficult night for sleeping; the ship was quite
rolly.  It takes a bit to get used to how to wedge oneself in one´s bunk to
prevent rolling from side-to-side.  The trick is to make one´s bunk as
narrow as possible, to line the lee cloth or the hull side with blankets,
towels, back pack etc.  There was some napping today to catch up.  We sailed
through the night under trysail, foresail and jumbo, lovely and quiet,
though with quite a bit of sideways motion.  This morning we dropped the
trysail and raised a single-reefed main.  Reefing the main makes the sail
smaller, thus safer in a strong wind.  The trysail is smaller than the
mainsail but goes up in the same place.  The trysail often goes up during
the night; it is easier to handle quickly if the wind increases.  Folding up
and stowing the trysail is usually quite a task, especially the first time,
but today fore watch and some extra volunteers did an amazing job at fitting
the sail into its deck box.  Sail handling also went very smoothly; we have
a great crew, Skipper was impressed.  It´s a satisfying feeling when
everyone works together to handle sail.  Writer´s Guild met again this
morning.  We each brought a picture from a magazine and passed them around.
Christina had us write a synopsis for a story about each one, a very fun and
interesting exercise.  The purpose is to help with writing ideas.  Soon
after lunch, the rain started and it has been raining off and on ever since.
When a watch is on, the entire watch stays on deck for the 4 hour period.
In the rain, the watch clusters around the helmsperson and they pass the
time chatting, laughing, listening to music (not the helmsperson), playing
games etc.  It´s a fun, albeit wet, time.  During Sarah B.´s 1200-1600 watch
the wind did a 180 degrees switch and very quickly Skipper was orchestrating
the lowering of the mainsail.  Trainees did well again, working together
efficiently.  The trysail was raised, the foresail and jumbo remained up,
but the wind lessened and so we are now motor-sailing.   Sarah led a seniors
chart work lesson this afternoon.  Antony´s starboard watch, during their
1600-2000hr watch, saw a large pod of dolphins come towards the ship.  The
dolphins spent about half an hour playing with the bow of the ship, diving
in the water and arching out again, side-to-side.  It´s beautiful to watch.
Antony figured that they were ´short-beaked Common dolphins.´ They could be
heard vocalizing; it was raining so it was quite quiet on deck with only the
7 members of starboard watch present, it was a memorable experience.  The 3
Anderson boys and Arwen continue doing their lessons each day we are at sea.
Simon´s reading is going well; I´m excited for him, he´s suddenly able to
put together so many more sounds and I hear him trying to sound out the
words of script he finds all over the ship.  Noah has finished most of his
math for grade 4 and Jacob has only percent, integers and some beginning
algebra to finish and they all spend at least 30 minutes each day reading a
book they enjoy.  The entire crew would like to wish Miray and Luke an
incredibly amazing wedding day tomorrow May 23rd.  We sure would love to be
with you; we are thinking of you.  Congratulations and we look forward to
seeing you in Victoria, love from all the crew and Anderson kids.  There are
only 3 people on deck; this is usually what happens once the weather turns
cold and wet.  The watch officer and 2 watch members will rotate throughout
the night, taking turns on the wheel and keeping each others spirits up.
Everyone else is below, chatting, reading, writing, playing chess, cards,
etc.  Some crew and trainees are already asleep, anticipating their nightly
stint at the wheel.  Until tomorrow, good-night, Bonice.