So as you can see I’m over the 10k mark. I’m also south of Annapolis and the starting line at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Over the last few days I’ve had the most drastic weather change of the trip. I’ve been losing a layer a day and now im barefoot with just a pair of shorts on. This temperature is perfect. I’m soaking up as much as I can, soon I’ll be sweaty and uncomfortable, but thats better than freezing and numb.
I’ve had fog and rain for the last few days. I’m surprised by the fog, im 500 miles from the closest piece of land. But this fog is a weakling compared to the fog beast that lives in the Arctic. The sea is strange looking right now. There has been light wind for 48 hours so the choppy waves are gone but there’s a 10-14 foot rolling swell coming out of the NW and misty rainy fog. Its eerily beautiful. Theres also some huge birds around here, the biggest sea birds I’ve ever seen. There were more about 500 miles north of here. I couldn’t tell you what type of bird they are, I really need bird book next time.
Some good news, I was looking through my I pod touch that my sister got me and I noticed a kindle app. Some how my sister backed up most of my kindle books on my I pod. Reading a book 3 sentences at a time takes some getting used to but its a whole heck of a lot better then nothing. My sister is one of my biggest sponsors. She’s my older sister but she looks younger. If you met her you would think she’s some sweet innocent girl, but she’s a powerhouse in the business world making six figures and kicking butt. My sister and I are both driven and ambitious, we just have different goals.
I did have a little scare, I ate a bunch of peanuts that ripped up my intestines like broken glass. I pooped blood for three days. I don’t mean to be disgusting or anything. I’m better now, although I still hurt inside a bit, needless to say, it gave me a fright. Don’t worry I’m fine.
One of my biggest problems is chafe. At night when I’m sleeping the chafe monster comes out and chews on my lines. I’m always shifting around and inspecting all my lines. They aren’t large diameter lines so they chafe through quickly. Someone needs to invent chafe monster repellent.
My sails are made by Hyde sails. My original sail sponsor welched on me (reneged) at the last minute and it put me in a bad position (I had no sails). Scott Steele came through and hooked me up with Hyde sails. It really saved the trip. It was such a last minute scenario that I literally didn’t have my sails until the day before I left. Talk about a close call. Scott gives private sailing lesions. Now a lot of people can give you sailing lessons but hes’ the only instructor I know that won a medal in the Olympics for sailing. If you can learn from the best, why mess with the rest? Scott had a bit harder task then my other sponsors because I’m very picky about my sails. In my mind you should be……I’ve also been a sail-maker so I know what I want. Not that I was the greatest sail-maker, me and a sewing machine never got along very well, but I was good at hand work.
In the next few days im going to step up my fishing game and see what I can catch. Ill also take advantage of the warmer weather and do some spring cleaning to get rid of some of this mold (the mold has completely taken over the V berth). The waters no longer green its returned to a beautiful color of blue. Life is good.
Fortitudine Vincimus
Matt
