85 NM to run to Las Palma
We have been sailing under fair winds since yesterday evening! Winds of 16-20 knots and a lively cobalt blue sea have given us a perfect sailing day.
During the morning watch the crew poled out the genoa and put the main sail on a broad reach to create a 'gull wing' in order to capture the winds coming mainly from behind the boat. Using Ric's signature succinct wisdom 'Guys, keep the wind on your left shoulder' we are thundering towards Las Palmas with 99 miles to go as we celebrate possibly our last happy hour aboard this evening. Camden - a true Texan- is busy in the galley preparing sausages and mash while Neil educates her in the baffling complexities of British onion gravy.
This afternoon perhaps with a view to the delights of Las Palmas ahead the guys were shown a good 'pulling knot' apparently a sailors knot with no nautical purpose whatsoever performed to best effect on a dance floor in order to impress the ladies!
After so many days without any wind at all we are all enjoying a lively sail to the sound of the Rolling Stones throughout the boat. 'Wild horses' playing inside and white horses on the wavecrests outside.
One of the measurements that we are using to gauge our progress under sail is the calculation of 'Velocity Made Good' or VMG. VMG is the calculation of actual progress towards your stated waypoint or destination and not simply your boat's speed over ground. Understanding
VMG reinforces the importance on maintaining our course.
Cell-phones and i-phones have begun to litter the power sockets aboard and we will soon be in range of cellular service and its instant gratification of email and mobile internet coverage.
Perhaps we can use this voyage to reflect that speed and instant gratification aren't everything and that 'velocity made good' is as important a measurement for human progress as it is for measuring that of a boat......
Sarah