just a few pictures before I buy a cable to actually download the full story!! hopefully, it'll give you an idea of what it was like.
Despite the fact that we were stuck on a 27ft boat and the l0ngest morning walk we took must have been about 50feet if you count the return trip, it didn't feel claustrophobic at all. The ocean is immense, and immensely beautiful. It is full of unsuspected life, thousands of shade of blue and grey and is in constant changing motion.
To our surprise, and thank you dodger, Elise was a very dry and very comfortable ride below...
Also, for 15 days, all we thought about was how to sail the boat fast over the next mile given our circumstances - and eat and sleep. Our mind was completely clear of any other earthly consideration. There is something so appeasing about going back to such basic concepts. Mentally, it was a real vacation, on the edge of the world.
Double-handed, the boat is entirely in your care during your watch. So you only think about sailing. Off watch, your body reminds you of your obligations and you tend to it: you eat, you wash, you sleep. That's about it.
Nathan hoping to catch a shark...just kidding, he was just doing laundry.
Nat displaying the XL shirt she wore when the whale struck in 2006 at the 500 mile North of Hawaii mark (and a few battle scars from gibing action).
We kept Nick's champagne for our last night on the boat. We wanted to enjoy it while in the open ocean.
Squalls also displayed quite a few beautiful rainbows.
Nathan on an afternoon watch
Our oldest, full of patch, distended spinnaker was the hero of the race.
Surfing is PURE fun. And Elise can go SUPER FAST with the swell. My personal record during that race in a 25-30 knot puff and heavy sweel is 16.14 knots sustained for 5 seconds...
on my last morning watch, the boat's average speed was 9.71 knots...
Elise had a powerboat-like wake and bow waves that would go above the boom (and get us very very wet...)
Our 'forestay', McGyver's style.
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