Day 2 started out with great sailing and speed, but finished with the wind clocking around on to our nose and forcing some more motor sailing, we were not making much progress toward anything. We tried south, we tried west both resulting in about 3-4kt of forward progress under bare polls after dinner.

Compliments to the chef, English Turkey roasted to perfection, stuffing to die for made from stale bread that you had to cut with a chain saw. Gouda smashed potatoes and fresh carrots with brown sugar cause they kinda look like yams. Wind had died enough for the entire crew to sit in peace and have a typical Thanksgiving fest! Wine and Rum and Diets – course it was my time to sleep to what better way to get a good siesta in a bouncy boat than a good drink of grog.

As night fell the sky was cloudy and some big waves had come in, on my watch I was able to roll out a bit of jib and get back on course, and woke up Marvin to finally raise some of the main sail, about 2/3rds of it (second reef point) with 22kn of wind and pinching at about 37 degrees to the wind. Rolling along at 6-7 so we didn’t completely plow through the waves while the crew was sleeping. Christine came up to relieve me at 4am and its still pretty much still set like that now @ 10:40AM Zulu (GMT).

Boat is covered in salt, lots of spray over the bows when going over the short waves and smacking into the next one behind it. Nice sunny day, very lightly scattered clouds.

Crew is still doing well, just chillin out while the water passes under the keel.

Did find out that the Aggies were whipping up on the Longhorns, so that pretty much speaks the longhorn season, no?

Course over ground: 219 Speed over ground: 5.7kn Total miles through water: 334 Miles to destination: 2508kn if we were a bird.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!  We certainly have a lot to be thankful for – our beautiful boat arrived to us virtually unharmed, we are sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and we are healthy – tonight we should feast on a small Turkey, stuffing and more – should be great.  We’ve had beautiful weather – clear skies, small white clouds and gorgeous water.  We even started out with great wind, but it soon turned around on us and its strength evaded our sails. During the day, it was cold (even though it is beautiful) and I am wore long johns, long pants, jacket and hat (foul weather gear at night).  All I can say is thank goodness I bought new long john’s (they are not silk, but a new variety of material), new gloves, socks and ear warmers J

We lost sight of land about 11 hours after we left Gran Canarias and realize that heading South might delay our arrival, but it is the best route for now.  One thing we didn’t do, that I heard every crew should do prior to undertaking a long voyage is set “assignments” or “responsibilities”.  This way, no crew member is mistaken as to what is expected of them.  I think that part of the reason we have not done this is because Marvin and Ron have already established some sort of a routine during the first weeks of their passage and the other reason is because it is 3 men and me and I was overruled.  The good news is that there are some assumed roles.  Matt and Ron are the chefs, Marvin helps fix the head and check the engines, I am in charge of the inventory on the boat and cleaning and we all do the sailing thing – I hope this works out.

I tried to send a note on the computer, but it did not work out so well for me – it brings on the sea yuckies!

Since my shift ends at 7p, about a half hour after dinner it makes it really easy to go straight to bed after jotting down my thoughts in my journal.

First night and round of watches over with. Simply awesome evening. A little motor sailing till my shift came up at 1am – 4am, then we could maintain 6kt with just the jib, it was really time to raise the main, just being cautious waited till daylight to make sure none of the lines were twisted.

Lovely dinner cooked up by Capt’n Ron, no kidding, that’s his name. Some chicken boobs (Breasts) and rice, a cold beer and all was good.

As I started this update, the wind shifted, so we went from 10kt with the wind on the port beam to 6kt beating with wind off 40 degrees too the port. Just dropped the dagger boards down, and now back up to 7kt into the 10kt breeze – the speed is the speed through water, not speed over ground which is about a knot slower.

The night was filled with stars and an almost full moon, I think we saw but 2 ships throughout the night, and definitely no oil wells like we are used to in the gulf. Was pretty chilly with the breeze and the jackets and hats were sported by all on watch.

The turkey is thawing in the fridge, to we’ll be celebrating thanksgiving as everyone else, turkey and mashed potatoes, homemade dressing, etc..

All is good here.

As the crow flies, 2577kn miles to go. 194 miles under the keel in the last 24hrs