Friday, September 21, 2007

Beaufort Force 6


N38 03 W135 59
local 0100

Same knee and toe wedged in as I type, but harder tonight. I also have bruises on my hips from getting shoved into the stove's crash bar, cooking dinner. We are under triple-reefed main and storm jib, and are moving 7 to 8-kts on a beam reach, in seas that are just about fully developed (big!). Everyone is asleep. Of course that could be a total exaggeration. They are at least prone in their bunks. Susan, Dan and I sleep on port side; Susan and Dan in seaberths with lee cloths. This means they are
100-percent relying on their lee cloths now. George sleeps under the bookshelf on starboard, so on this tack he doesn't have to worry anymore about books coming down on him. Maybe just a flying body.

This is great sailing, although really the kind that one would prefer to look back on.

From Dan's memory:
"And wherefore was it glorious? Not because the way was smooth and placid as the southern sea. But because at each moment your courage was called forth and your fortitude challenged. For this it was glorious. For this it was a glorious adventure..."

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