With wind comes waves, its just the way it is. My waves are coming aft of my port beam, and are 7-9 feet tall. In all the conditions I’ve experienced on this trip I’ve never been worried about the safety of myself or my boat. The waves can be HORRIBLY ANNOYING though. Namaste has been moving along at 4.2 – 5 knots for the past 18 hours. It is a relief to be making way again, however the motion is shattering my already thin nerves. I’ve met a lot of sailors tougher then me, I’d say I am in the mid-80% of the toughness scale, but I am ready for land.
Last night I turned on my running lights just after dusk. I didn’t notice any color coming from the bow. I checked and only my rear white was burning. I have a second set of colored running lights on the mast in international configuration (red over green, sailing machine). I flipped the switch and only the green is burning. How many more little things can wear at my nerves? I know…, how about my second autopilot breaking! This one broke in exactly the same place the last one broke. There is a pin that holds the autopilot to the boat (not the tiller end). And there is a small pin holding it in place, that small pin creeps out of its hole and getting it back in is no easy task, I think it was pressed in by machine.
I had to make 3 cups of coffee this morning in order to get 2/3’s of one into me. I have to hold the espresso pot on the burner because the gimbals broke last week. The first cup spilled when the autopilot fell apart and I had to make a dash for the helm, the second one spilled when I took my hand off the pot for a moment to put some powdered milk in my cup. I lost an eighth trying to pour the coffee in the cup, and another bit to a new burn on my leg.
Anyway, I spent the night trying to stay on my bunk. I turned on my steaming light so I at least have a white burning on both ends. I am far from shipping lanes, the closest one to me was
These last miles are seemingly the hardest. I’m exhausted, physically and mentally. However the day is beautiful and I’m happy to be making good way.
“A watched pot never boils”, I must stop looking at my distance to go, 731.4 miles!
I know it will be worth it.
Alex
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