Location: Underway to Devil's
As the sun sank on program day 45, watch team two prepared for a very wet 8-12 night watch. Progress over the previous twelve hours had been slow, with mechanical issues and variable winds hampering our ability to make way. As the evening squalls rolled in, we expected to mostly bob around and get rained on for 4 hours, all the while pleading with our flogging sails to leave us in peace.
Upon our handover from team one, all was as it had been that day. Calum and Eli were tinkering with the engine, and Argo was rolling along at 2 knots or so. Kiki took the helm, and the rest of the team got to work trimming the sails. After some necessary adjustments, we were able to get her above 3 knots, a major victory in light air. As the first hour of watch developed, the squall overhead brought a major uptick in wind and we raced to take advantage. With all sails up but the mainsl, we were able to convince argo to average a respectable 6 knots for the next hour. An uplift in spirits mirrored our uptick in speed, as is so often the case with sailors. However, we feared that the passing of the squall would mean the loss of our precious puffs of air. When the rain began to ease, we feared the worst.
Just then, the chart house companionway hatch slid open, and out stepped a mythical figure forgotten about since childhood The most loved and respected of all superheroes is Captain Underpants! Watch team two rejoice at the coming of our hero, for his mere presence made failure unthinkable. He took one glance at the leeward sky, and Neptune himself trembled. For fear of Captain Underpants wrath, the sea obliged, and the wind remained stiff when we needed it most.
In the dawn light of day 46, Captain Underpants had gone, but his wind remained as a reminder of his glory. Watch team two proceed to set full sail, less one reef in the main. Since then, Argo has been shipping it green, making an average of 8 knots. Captain Calum, who sadly missed the appearance of Captain Underpants, has continued to work on our main engine and has made progress in that regard.
Thus, we carry on, now solidly out of the doldrums and into the northeasterly trade winds. Now that our days of puttering along with the engine seem to be in the past, watch takes on a new dynamic. Every knot of speed depends on the steadiness of the helmsmen and the sweat and toil of the sail trimmers. The drone of the engine is gone, replaced by the rush of water past our hull and the ebb and flow of conversation on board. The crew of Argo welcomes the change with open arms.