A Day That Never Sat Still

This entry is a tough one to write. The last 48 hours have been so full that it feels almost unreal. There have been highs, new experiments, small victories, and a few frustrations. The more focused and curious Peter and I become with Hazel, the more she seems to reward us. Our days are packed with action and the hours disappear quickly. Here is a walk through the last 24 hours.

Late yesterday afternoon, Peter and I rigged Hazel to sail in what sailors call wing on wing. We set the whisker pole and Genoa to port and the mainsail to starboard. We had been frustrated for days because we could not get Hazel to sail well with the wind behind us. The wing on wing setup changed everything. Suddenly the sails were stable, the boat was balanced, the ride was flat, and the speed was steady. The only real challenge with this configuration is steering. When you are sailing downwind it is easy to overcorrect. Once you get Hazel dialed in within a very narrow steering envelope, you can hand things over to the autopilot and she handles it beautifully.

That setup carried us into the evening. Before dark we decided it was wise to take down the whisker pole and run through the night with only the Genoa. What a night it turned out to be. Hazel had flat water and a steady breeze that never quit. She sliced through the sea at a consistent 5 to 6 knots. We always choose a conservative sail plan at night because emergencies in the dark are no fun. I do not think we have ever had a better night sail. A full moon would have made it perfect, but you cannot have everything.

During the night we noticed our battery power dropping to a dangerous level. We were down to 49 percent. There were two main reasons. First, Peter had accidentally hit the fuel pump switch while trying to toggle the macerator. By the time we discovered it, the pump had been running for five hours. Second, our feathered friends broke the agreement and have been sneaking onto our solar panels at night. Unfortunately, they left large deposits that coated the panels in a white film and reduced their performance.

The first task this morning was figuring out how to clean solar panels that sit eight feet above the deck. We built a long pole with a wet microfiber cloth and fresh water and gave them a thorough cleaning. Tonight we will be on guard for our winged freeloaders.

Since the wing on wing setup had worked so well, we decided it was time to hoist the asymmetrical spinnaker. After some trial and error, new rigging, and a few words I am not proud of, she finally went up. Once she filled, Hazel took off on difficult wind angles with impressive speed.

I have been trying to convince a very good friend to join us for part of this journey. He recently became a grandfather, and he is dedicating his time, as he should, to the new addition. Even so, he is with us in spirit. He is an artist at heart, someone who sees color and beauty in everything. He rides waves on his surfboard and has spent a lifetime visiting the green room. Most important, he is my brother in Christ. He follows the blog and was inspired to write the following Psalm.

A Trade Wind Psalm

by Brother Rob Dieda

I am a sailor with salt in my hair,

A vagabond under the wide blue sky,

With a tall-masted ship that answers the prayer

Of the warm trade winds that never die.

We glide through waters of turquoise fire,

Where emerald swells roll lazy and deep,

And dolphins leap like silver desire,

While parrotfish flash in gardens of sleep.

The ocean sings in a thousand hues —

Sapphire and jade where the coral gleams,

and great sea turtles drift taking in amazing views.

Through crystal halls of forgotten dreams.

Palm-fringed islands rise soft in the mist,

Spice-scented shores where the breakers call,

And clouds like white ships go drifting, unmissed,

As the wind whispers secrets to all.

By day the sun lays gold on the deck,

By night the stars spill their heavenly wine —

A million bright lanterns, each one a speck

Of the hand that once calmed the Galilee brine.

When tempests roar like old Jonah’s gale,

And Leviathan stirs in the purple deep,

We lift our voices and never fail —

For the breath of the Lord is in every sweep.

Oh, sweet is the life of the wandering crew,

With canvas that bellies and rigging that sings,

Through paradise seas of sapphire and blue,

Where the heart finds its joy on vagabond wings.

---

Peter knows exactly how to savor a day sailing!

Solar panel pole assembly for freshwater cleaning:

Asymmetrical Spinnaker Launch:

New day, new friends!

I probably should not say this out loud, but here it is. The wind is on our back and we are holding a perfect rhumb line for the islands. Will it last? Probably not. Does it feel incredible today? Absolutely!

Lastly, Peter makes the perfect potato chicken cream soup. Great meal to end a wonderful day!