A Change in the Weather

Day 109

Noon Position: 43 35S. 97 04E

Course/Speed: E7

Wind: WSW25-30

Bar: 1016 Sea: NW8

Sky: Rain/Drizzle

Sail: Working Jib, 2 reefs

Miles last 24 hours: 164

Longitude Made Good: 157

Total Miles: 14,881

Miles to Hobart: 2233

Overnight wind increased and brought with it low cloud and rain. At midnight I took down the twin headsails, out on poles these last two days, and set the working jib to starboard with a couple reefs. The morning came on late and cold and gray and all day the quality of light has remained poor. If you were trying to read a (waterproof) newspaper in the cockpit, you’d reach for a flashlight.

The sea is cement gray, steep and breaking, and again, larger and more aggressive than I would expect for the wind. Sometimes a particular part of the wave train will collapse all at once and produce a solid break three or four boat lengths wide. This is rare. I’ve seen it twice all day. Each time I’ve been grateful the wind is only 25-30. It’s mesmerizing to watch the ocean being itself. I’ve been at odd jobs on deck today; refreshing some cotter pins on the poles; renewing the windvane control line; little stuff…but often the job will fade and I’ll just sit and stare out at  the sea doing its thing.

This afternoon, lunch of canned eggplant ragout on crackers, cheese, and a serving of Soylent. Then a nap. Wind faded for a time, but is filling in again now that it’s dark. And what dark! I can’t even see Monte from my seat in the pilot house. I need to take in some sail; jigger Monte a bit, and then it’s time for dinner.

Tonight, leftover Shepherd’s Pie, a fancy title for:

• 4 Cups instant mashed potatoes
• 1 Can ground beef
• 1 Can cut carrots
• 1 Can sweet peas
• Dried garlic, onions, other seasoning
• butter, garlic
• chicken stock.

It’s the kind of night one could wish for a big chair by the fire. Shepherd’s Pie will have to suffice.