Well and truly on the way - we were visited today by one of these long tailed terns - brilliant white, long pointy tail, razor wings and they dive spectacularly for fish. But also a sure sign we're close to land. About 100 miles from Chesterfield island in fact, sailing along the south western edge of the reef and about 50 miles out. We should get around the corner in a couple of days.
A day of sweat and effort for the old geezer spent in the bowels of the vee-hicle unpacking and repacking the insides and then putting sponge rubber under the diesel containers in the cabin as they were moving around a lot and we don't want them to wear through. 'Er outside spent the time getting used to Kevvo's idiosyncrasies - he takes a bit of practice and getting used to. And, as she told you, getting her knickers wet.
Repacking because we decided we needed a second bunk to sleep in rather than as a storage bin. We'd been hot bunking one bunk but because Berri is so tiny inside and everywhere is knobby or sharp or generally uncomfortable in some way, there is nowhere for the person on watch to sit or rest the aching back except - in our case - a bunk full of boxes, bags and stuff. So it's all repacked and we got two bunks just like Pete and I had all them years ago. So it seems anyway.
Definition: hot bunking is two or more people taking turns to use the same bunk - you come off watch, peel off the wetties and party gear and hop into a nice warm bunk your oppo has just hopped out of. Except it's often wet and soggy and you curse said oppo just as s/he curses you at the other end of the watch.
Ann, you asked about phosphorescence - isnt any here, though a couple of nights ago I looked over the stern at our wake and there was a glowing trail with lots of bigger sparkles - more or less instantaneous. Very like looking at the milky way on a clear moonless night except its stars are static.
We've been up and down the reefing system all day - from 3 and postage stamp jib to full everything and now 1 and about half the furklwe - how did ha happen? - meant to be furler. Always exhilaration in these conditions, with the constant grey knuckle twinge in the hairier bits. The sail works well, Brian - thanks. Different though, and needs different techniques.
Time to scrape ze teef. Another blog soonish on Consultation and our complement of medicinal compounds. Very different from last time.
