Day 14 - 561 miles to go

June 16, 2008 Monday 8pm - early watch - 35d 5745 North 42d 09' West
We are roaring along on a beam reach in 15 knots of wind, doing about 7K. The moon is full and sparkling off the wave tops. The rest of the crew has gone to bed to get ready for the night watches and I am left here typing away. We listened to Fado music (Portuguese), had a great dinner and then everyone was full and sleepy. We still have the clocks set to Carolina time, but of course the sun comes up at 3AM and sets at 7 PM. In the Azores, we will correct the clocks.
It is getting a little cooler now - I'm wearing a shirt. Who would have thought that you could go clear across the Atlantic with all the doors open and light clothes. Sometimes I use a blanket at night. Really nice!
It has rained a few times now and this was really welcome. It gets all the salt off the outside of the boat. When spray comes over, it dries and leaves a salt crust. After some days, this crust gets pretty thick to the point that you don't want to sit on it and get your clothes all salty. So the rains have been great. Of course, they always come during some kind of sail change so that they can wash us as well.
Due to a storm predicted for the Azores, we are again zigging and zagging instead to going straight to Flores. We are headed East to avoid strong Northeasterly winds due on Thursday. After that front comes through, we should be able to head North and actually get to the Azores. But it's a pretty night, we are going fast - who can complain? It's really nice to get out onto the ocean where the wind blows all the time and a sailboat gets to do what it was made for. Along the coast, you motor more than you sail. The sailing has been fabulous.