took that shower today! 20 days — no shower. That is a record. I feel so much better. The water temperature was up to 74°F, so it
was even a luke-warm shower. Used the dish soap, lots of it.
Stevie will be mad at me when he finds out. But I don't care; I
feel good and that is important for all of us, believe me.
The wind has filled in as per the grib, southwest 15 knots, and we
are now making 11 knots at the finish in São Sebastião. Looks like
the wind should back all the way around to the east over the next
few days, with our fastest day being Monday, reaching on starboard
tack in 20 knots of wind — junior league firehose . . . "garden hose".
We got our first visitor today, a sort of fly. The thing must
have gotten blown out here by a "pompero" or something. We are
200 miles offshore — a long way for a bug. He is sitting on the
light right next to me, keeping me company while I write this
letter.
Speaking of the grib, Brunel has got herself a lane down there.
Looks to me like her gains will continue for a couple more scheds
at least. That group is still dealing with a high-pressure cell
and Brunel is on the outside of the wheel where there is more
pressure. The only way for the others to get out there would be to
gybe, and that is too costly with the angles they have now.
I read the finishing instructions today for the first time. That
is a sign that we are getting there. Sounds kind of fun — "finish
through an imaginary line bearing 130°M off the flag pole on the
veranda of a Hotel on Punto do Araca." I guess we will know it
when we see it. There is actually a lat/lon description for the
hotel. Nice show for the guests.
We have a genoa staysail that we are going to retire after
this leg that looks like it has a bad case of road rash. We
figued out that the thing has been up for about 10,000 miles, some
of that in 30+ knots. That is some serious mileage!! It is made
of 3DL — like most of our sails — and has held up real well to the
beating that this race doles out. Still, the thing is hurting, and
I want to send it back to Minden, Nevada, as a specimen for
analysis at the 3DL Institute of Technology. The thing is a war
hero.
Anyway, I am getting a little punchy, so I think I will shake Rudi
out of our bunk and get a little rack time myself.
