A peaceful evening ....

Tuesday the 26 of Nov 2013
08:50 UTC
15 05 N
37 57 W

I wouldn't say we had a nice night but an interesting one, yes, definitely.
It all stared with that big black line of coulds on starboard, all along the north horizon line that merged with it and that brought us a lack of wind that was like a nasty warning.
We did put a bit more south in our west as we were running 290 and took 2 reefs, just in case, with the solent pooled out.
Christian and I are now well trained to do this in sync. I mean reefing and/or pooling the head sail. Since we left Mindello when we had to reef twice before leaving the straight we had a fair bit of rehearsal, that's good.
That wasn't such a bad idea as we soon got some big swirling gust at the time the lighr had completely disapered.
Wind changed direction every minute then stabilised a bit, allowing us to sail down wind at 180 escaping (we thought) the squall and the rain. Well, that wasn't exactly that. On the Radar screen squalls were ahaed of us and on port and it took some time before we could get out of their way.
Then, of course, the wind dropped again and we had time for a nice supper Marie did cook for us: rooster in a wine sauce with potatoes and pancakes to top it off.
What was left to do was bring back the Geona, un-reef the main, gibe, re-pool on the other side and back to our previous course. Which we did with the wind accepting us sailing down wind at a 150 angle.
This morning around 05:00 the wind dropped again and we were stalled before some 25 kts gust start pushing us at the time rain started again: second squall.
Easier as the wind stayed on the same direction and the disapered with the rain, leaving us stranded in 3 Kts of wind.
Now the sun finished rising behind us.
Sky is a wonrdeful mix of grey, blue, kink, yellow and white.
Just some wind missing and we are "motor sailing" at 5.5 kts.

Some lessons.
If you see black could coming, get out of the way, unless you want to shower, particularly at dusk.
If wind drops with the clouds approaching, reef to second, you're gonna get a blow. It's easier to release a reef than to take an additional one because the first isn't enough.
Running downwind with the solent pooled out works well.
Keep the cook busy, you will need it latter
If you wear glasses and have a helmet put it on. It will make life easier.
After a squall there are usually other ones. (bugs behave like fighters squadrons the first gives the direction, the second fires)
Switch the radar on and look a the trend of the squalls moves.

So far so good.
Let's keeps our fingers crossed and pray (or wisthle) for some fair wind ...

To be continued ...

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