Westerlies for Breakfast

February 26, 2019

Day 145

Noon Position: 46 38S  144 02W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): ExS 4

Wind(t/tws): SWxW 11

Sea(t/ft): SW 4

Sky: Clear, the Squalls

10ths Cloud Cover: 5

Bar(mb): 1016, rising slowly

Cabin Temp(f): 61

Water Temp(f): 53

Relative Humidity(%): 67

Sail: Big genoa and main, full. Reaching.

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 122

Miles since departure: 19,971

Avg. Miles/Day: 138

Days since Cape Horn: 88

Miles since Cape Horn: 12,330

Avg. Miles/Day: 140

Longitude Degrees Made Good (degrees minutes): 2 58

Total Longitude Made Good Since Cape Horn (degrees minutes): 284 30

Avg. Long./Day: 3.23

Can’t remember a day when I spent more time on deck.

Was reefed way down overnight. Winds were in the middle twenties from the south, which we carried foreward of the beam and plenty healed over. I had difficulty crawling out of my bunk for the routine deck inspections.

Unfortunately, wind didn’t hold into the day. I launched the big genoa after coffee, but we were soon overtaken by squalls, which required I spend the entire morning on deck easing the main as a troll lumbered over us and reeling it back in as it passed. Every hour velocities changed as much as 20 knots; direction, as much as 90 degrees. Busy time, but I was unwilling to take in the big sails. We needed the speed.

In fairness, it was a lovely day for such exercises. The sky that was not squally contained cottonball cumulus gliding over a cobalt sea, and plenty of sun shone on my many wet things spread on deck to dry.

The afternoon has continued the variability theme, but without the trolls. Things are steadier. But to windward looks ragged. I think it may be a busy night.

—

I found these notes on the cabin sole this morning…

WESTERLIES FOR BREAKFAST

Monte and Randall are seated at a diner. A waitress approaches.

Waitress: (to Monte) What can I get ya, hon?

Monte: Señora, for me, I will have the twelve-pancake-eight-bacon-six-sausage-five-potato-and-four-egg-fry-up-Dura-Breakfast. With a small side of spinach.

Waitress: So, the number three for you?

Monte: No, one only. And an espresso.

Waitress: (yelling to the kitchen) Mac, we got an espresso machine?

Mac: (pointing) Ya, it’s right next to the milk dispenser.

Waitress: That’s an orange juice machine.

Mac: Well, if that ain’t it, Marge, then we ain’t got one.

Waitress: (to Monte) Mac says the espresso machine is out for repairs.

Monte: Then I’ll have a Madeira.

Waitress: (to Randall) And you, hon, what do you want this morning?

Randall: I just want westerlies. Westerlies at 20 to 30.

Waitress: Lately those westerlies come with a lotta north or a lotta south. Do you have a preference?

Randall: Ya, I don’t want any north or south; I just want west.

Waitress: So no north or south. (yelling) Hey Mac, can we hold the north and south on those westerlies?

Mac: Marge, you see me open a fresh can of westerlies every morning.

Waitress: (to Randall) Sorry, Mac says the westerlies are individually wrapped in north and south for baking. Can’t be separated. Would ruin the whole dish. They’re imported from France.

Monte: (raises his glass of Madeira ) Ah, the French!

Mac: Can says it’s from Hoboken, Marge!

Waitress: Mac says they’re made in a small village near the sea.

Monte: It always reminds me of home, that village.

Waitress: And I should tell ya, the brand we use has a fair bit of light wind too. In fact, I served a westerly last week and the customer found a big fat becalmed right in the middle of it. Some people go for that kind of thing. Ok with you?

Randall: Na, skip it. I’ll have a boiled egg and a black coffee.

Monte: (slyly) Señora, when you bring me the check, it is ok to set it next to him. I’ll reach for it later.