I don't sleep well as I keep thinking about what might be going on back home. I fell I have been gone too long and really hope all is well.
Get wakes me at 3 AM for my watch. I grab my hoodie, jacket, life vest and iPod and head topside. It is overcast but nice out. Not stars and no ships. I watch from the cockpit stairs under the dodger with a vigilant eye and music in my bears keeping me alert.
At 6AM I awaken Yves and crawl into bed. Nothing to report on this watch.
I awake at 9:30 as Yves is on the ham radio. He motions that hurricane Debbe has died out - that is pleasing news to know she is no longer a threat. We hear that Teepee is in the Gulf Stream headed to Newport and making only 2 knots. They have battled 30-40 knot winds and lost their life raft (about $3500) - it does not sound like they are having a good trip.
A quick bowl of raisin bran and a coffee and then we change rigging again to the other genoa. The winds have dropped down around 10 knots and our speed is around 5 knots. We are 609 nm away from Flores.
We got the two fishing lines tangled and as Yves and I were trying to bring them in we got them caught in the aqua generator (a bladed prop attached to a rope and then a generator that creates electricity from the constant turning). This turned into an hour of work and a few barbs of the hooks into my flesh as we worked to untangle them. Finally done, I went for a nap - I did not sleep; still thinking about Pam and the kids.
Sitting topside with Greg I see some splashes in the water a few hundred yards to the front and starboard. It is dolphins - maybe 5 or so jumping through the water. They cut in front of the boat by about 100 yards and keep going. So strange that in the middle of the ocean these mammals wander. We have sea swallows as well hanging around and chirping at night. I really don't get how they survive out here and need to google them when I get a chance.
Yves and I play another game of chess and I win after a long battle. After that we work on the engine. We can have forward or reverse, but not both it seems. I am helping, but it is Yves doing all the work and tinkering. After about an hour and half - and many frustrations, we get it to work.
We see some more dolphins a few hundred yards to stern. They are quickly gone though - likely chasing their dinner.
Greg makes chicken fetticini Alfredo for dinner with garlic bread and we open a bottle of red wine (just 2/3rds of glass for us as we are at sea).
Although dark clouds are on the jstern horizon, we have 4-5 knot winds and are doing 1-2 knots in speed. We decide to turn the motor on. We are now at 5 knots with 570 nm to go.
Yves and I watch MamaMia on his laptop topside. It is like being at a drive-in. Yves goes to bed at 11 and he will relieve me in an hour.
The moon is out, the water is almost mirror flat and still and the clouds are playing hide and seek with the moon. We cruise through the night. It is beautiful.