Date: 06/12/2011
Latitude: 38* 00'.0 N
Longitude: 041* 42.1 W
Distance to Go: 711 miles
Weather: Fresh Breeze, Partly Cloudy
Title: Sunday day 11 at sea.

Today was the best day of sailing since I've been on the boat. The wind was a steady 18 to 20 knots with gusts up to 24 and about 6 foot waves. We were under full main and Genny and being at the helm was just plain fun,

About 1800 the sky became quickly overcast and it looked like rain. I was on deck with Barry and by 1900 I could see a dark cloud swiftly approaching from behind us. I said to Barry, "Do you think it would be a good idea to put one reef in for the night?"
He took a look behind him and said, "Yeah and you might want to do it sooner than later."
So I went below and got my gear on and no sooner then I got topside, it began to rain and the wind picked up. While I was putting the reef in at the mast, the sea was crashing over the bow and the rain came down heavy. My expensive foul weather gear saved me from being soaked to the core.

The rest of the evening was rainy and gusty but with one reef and the Genny reduced, it was manageable.