Day 11

We are winding down Day 11 with much improved moral aboard. How, you may ask, is that... you just dropped into last place! Ah, but I know something you do not. This morning at 0630, just after the morning roll call email... we started sailing to Tahiti.. "The way you're supposed to."

What way is that? With color! The wind has backed and we launched the trusty 3/4 oz spinnaker and suddenly Fortaleza was dancing. After days of doing 9 kts and getting 7 kt progress because of the "blessed" Equitorial counter current, it feels incredible to look at the GPS "speed over ground" and seeing 11 kts.
Yesterday we tried all the sail combinatons on board to get up some speed.. #3, #2jt with main, with main reefed, back with full main, with a #1. Given the sore state we're in from leaning over, I questioned... "I don't think there's enough Advil left on board to lift the #1 again." So, the chute is up and we've gone from looking at a long losing final third of the race, to being "back in the game".

Down below, Chuck has launched our "mini kite" airscoop and we can actually get some good rest. (My bunk particularly is good... the skipper has offered me $500 a night for it.)

Last night was a beautiful, starry night with almost no clouds and no moon. Looking back at Polariz, just above the horizon and then up to Cassiopia and the milky way and past Jupiter to the bow where the Southern Cross provided a great mark to steer by.

One Shellback and five Pollywogs have a date with King Neptune. I predicted yesterday for tonight at Sundown. Jim B. picked 9pm and Jim M. chose 2100. (If they get it, it will go to the even or odd minute, with Jim Brown being odd.) Jill has 2130. Al has midnight. Chuck has the lyrical 2202.

"Well, I meant to, but zubenelgenubi."
-me