Location: Underway to Barbados
Sunrise found our crew sailing happily in the North East Trades. While this breeze has been predominant since leaving Noronha, only now has the angle and strength been quite so perfect for Argo. We will be blessed with this wind for the rest of the voyage, enjoying it as it veers further north and closer to the West Indies we go. We are also being helped along by the Guiana Current, a stream so strong that it brings the outflow from the Amazon River this far north, making the ocean murky and scattering sediment over the shallow continental shelf. (Still only 30m depth!). The watches raised more canvas as the morning drew on to keep us moving along efficiently. Seeing the crew confidently go about line handling truly is a pleasure! Not so long ago, the mess of rope and sail would have taken a long time to muddle through, but I guess we have crossed an ocean since then!
The chefs created a masterpiece, even if an hour late, for lunch. Gabe G, Elene, and Audrey are coming up with the novel idea to make pancakes in the oven! The angled heel measured in the difference between the inboard and outboard sides of the baking tray. The latter part of the afternoon was made up of putting together food ideas, as soon all the crew will be coming up with their own menu plans. Until this point, our incredible Program Manager Amanda C has crafted menus around the challenging conditions of long passages and the limited shopping of our remote destinations, but as we are now returning to the land of plenty and well-stocked supermarkets, all will be able to put together the dishes they have been longing to make.
The evening was rounded off by everyone gathering below to watch Master and Commander, as I had apparently promised to hold a viewing, allowing me to enjoy the stars and bio-luminescence with Amanda and Claire.
Happy Birthday, Dad!
Assorted photos from the trip so far.