During the Crossing
Musings from a tired watchkeeper.
0300. It's the middle of our second night out. My
watch lasts until 0600. This is the hardest night usually: you're tired but not
quite tired enough to sleep when you
should!
We had really good wind the
last 8 hours or so: 18-20 just aft of the beam. It made for a quick ride. We
surfed a couple of times to over 9 knots. I'm really glad we switched to the
working jib back at Suenos.
The wind is
now getting light. It's down to 12-14 knots, and has come forward a bit. It is
pitch black outside. The only light is from the bioluminescence. Every once in a
while, a wave comes up and smacks the side of the boat, sending my heart
leaping.
We are about 48 miles out from
Isla Isabella. I wonder what it will be like when we get there. I'm trying
everything I can to stay awake, including writing this
(*grin*).
0318. Every ten minutes, the
countdown timer goes off and I poke my head up to look around and check the
radar screen. It's been very quiet, which is fine by
me.
We just crossed N 22 degrees! This
is the furthest south we've been in the boat! Longitude is W 106 degrees 45
minutes. Just to our south are three islands called Islas Marietas. These are a
penal colony. We read a story a while back in Latitude 38 about a couple who
anchored there, and the husband got taken away. The wife was worried that she
would never see him again, but it all worked out in the
end.
Every once in a while, someone
comes on the VHF radio and whistles, or burps, or makes like an obscene phone
call. We think it might be the bored guards on the islands.
Posted: Mon - December
20, 2004 at 12:02 PM