Update from a Speck on the Ocean

950am Sat May 10 2336N 6556W wind 22kts NE Sunny Still under triple reef Jib Staysail Triple reef Main 7.1ktsCOG 356T

Breakfast is a bit more challenging: making coffee is hazardous; pouring cereal into a bowl not quite so simple as it sounds. The boat is leaning at an angle between 12 to 15 degrees, and it jogs you also fore and aft. It is not yet like the proverbial 'washing machine' but it is still a challenge to get from A to B and do anything that needs two hands.

At this point, two days in, we are all adept at keeping watch and handling the sails; and the only breakage so far on the boat was a minor irritation: a wimpy plastic hinge on a toilet seat broke apart (culprit unnamed!) which was promptly switched out with the forward head (which we do not use offshore because up in the bow it is more like a crazy fun-fair ride than a bathroom). But one does have to ask: why on a toilet seat sold for a boat would they put rinky dinky hinges designed for Minnie Mouse? (Hayden, please feel free to forward to Island Packet and to Raritan!)

Progress is excellent: we have been blown West of the rhumb line but only by about 24nm; so considering that we have in 47 hours now covered 330nm that is hardly far off the line. We all had showers last evening, and regular readers know how superb such a simple pleasure becomes on a salty boat offshore. Adventuress has also taken several dousings of rain but apparently does not share our joy because she promptly showers herself all over with scores of gallons of seawater.

John and Nancy, with Bob and Dave