Sparkling Night Sky

It was promised in the brochure! And finally we had it! A sparkling night sky, no clouds for the first half, no moon either, so the stars were just leaping out at you. And the Milky Way looked like it had been painted with a giant white paint brush! Amazing… I got out my Star Book by H.A. Rey (yes, the Curious George author/illustrator) and found the Southern Cross plus Centaur, which has my two favorite Southern hemisphere stars – Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri. I just love how they sound when you say their names.

We had smooth seas, and with the full mainsail and genoa (our biggest upwind sail), we were tracking east northeast.

It is now officially hot, with the daytime temperature at 90°F (32.2°C) and seawater temperature of 84°F (28.8°C). I stay either in the cabin (hotter) or under the coachroof in the cockpit, to stay out of the sun. Just after sunset last evening I had a quick rinse shower with fresh water, just to feel better before trying to nap, but really it was too hot to sleep, so I’m very tired this morning. Plus, we did a major maneuver in tacking the boat last night as the wind slowly shifted. Now we are headed north northwest.

A curious episode last evening… I was sitting in the cockpit when suddenly there was a thud, a different noise. Often on a boat, the first indication that there is a problem is a new sound. So I got up, and gingerly looked over the top of the coach roof, which is just about neck level for me. I had my headlight on, and it was shining forward, and I’m looking to see if there are any ropes or anything else that looks out of place. I slowly turn my gaze toward the mast and the starboard side, and – whoa! – there is a big flying fish about 6 inches from my face! He’d bounced off part of the boat while airborne, and landed there. His gills were pumping as he tried to breathe. I grabbed him, knowing my fingers would smell of flying fish for about a day, and tossed him back in the ocean.

Position
27° 54’S x 35° 51’W
Course
340° True
Speed
7.5 knots
Log
23,381nm
True Wind Speed
11°
True Wind Direction
17°
Sails (click for diagram)
Mainsail, Solent
Air temperature
90°F / 32.2°C
Sea temperature
84°F / 28.8°C