2011 Trip 2 - Pacific Swift

The gentle sound of the waterfall and a dramatic moonrise watched over the sleeping Swift. Awaking to another sunny dawn fore watch and the cooks set out to test the water pressure of the local shower. The cascading waters of the falls didn´t disappoint providing a dramatic and powerful scrub to the ship´s company. By the time all the watches returned from the waterfall a breeze was beginning to build down the arm. In good order dories were weighed, anchor hove up, stern line slipped and the mainsail raised with vim and vigour. The breeze switched from an outflow from the sound to inflow early in the sail which had us running every sail up in short order. It must be said that this group of trainees does an excellent job when it come to handling sail and the physical work of the ship. The breeze built nicely through the day and we beat south under full sail with the trainees bringing the ship about like clockwork. We sailed for 8.5 hours watching the full glory of the pyramidal peaks and lofty glaciers emerge from the cloud and then slip back under their covers tinged in the orange glow of sunset. After dinner, around 1930, using the last whispers of the wind the Swift glided into Stag Bay on Hernando Island anchoring under sail  as crepuscular rays illuminated it´s wooded shore.  It´s been a good day the trainees being knitted together through the good work of handling a large ship through her paces and bringing her to gentle rest in a peaceful bay.