on our way to the Farallones
This is Nat's 5-knot face
Nathan on watch at night
Surprisingly enough, the nights were not as cold as we had anticipated. We still needed fleece and jackets and gloves but we were quite comfortable. We didn't use the hot soups and tea very much...between getting some extra sleep and heating up water, we chose the former...
The sleeping bag stayed dry, thanks to Jason's (Argo Yacht Rigging) custom dodger. The first coupl of nights were l0ng and slow. We weren't hard beating but it was still upwind. We used VHF for weather information which gave the depressive news of no wind anywhere around us.
It looks like the batteries needed a couple of cycles before functioning properly. after that, the consumption was well along the lines we had planned and we were able to make check in (9AM PST) and children's hour (5pm PST) every day. Both happened during Nathans off watch time so he did those. I prepared food and did periodic boat cleaning.
After we left the Farallones, the shark and the dolphin, there was no land and no life in sight for a while. We were entering the deep open ocean and the most magical adventure.
Alone at the helm, facing the elements and what felt like a heavy heavy coat of water, with a quiet dormant power...
We are painfully managing the #1 under very light wind. The main also requires constant trimming and our tiller extension is on the verge of breaking at its base (we stopped using it as soon as we put the kite up, it needs replacing now)
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