Day's log for Sunday, August 26th, 2001 - Gulf of Mexico

0100 - position N 28 deg 33.1' W 093 deg 13.3'

0130 - raised main. The wind was coming up a bit so I thought I would try to gain on my course during the night. Also I noticed I could still see well enough to see around the boat, even with no moon. I have been in caves where they turned all the lights out. This was nothing compared to the cave. I determined that with the wind south at about 5 knots and the main and jib are up and the rudder is locked to port the boat would self steer roughly 90 degrees off the wind. Also I resolved that I should get up at least once an hour, log the position, and carefully scan the horizon for anything.

0206 - position N 28 deg 33.5' W 083 deg 14.5'

0300 - position N 28 deg 34.0' W 083 deg 15.8'

0400 - position N 28 deg 34.4' W 083 deg 17.0'

0514 - position N 28 deg 34.4' W 083 deg 18.6'

0805 - position N 28 deg 39.5' W 083 deg 21.5'

0900 - position N 28 deg 41.1' W 083 deg 22.3'

0911 - started motor

0920 - changed course to 308

0930 - lowered main

1000 - position N 28 deg 44.3' W 083 deg 26.2' track 304 speed 5.3

1100 - position N 28 deg 47.4' W 083 deg 31.3' track 302 speed 5.1

1102 - track made good 299

1104 - changed course to 315. Compass is now 340 track is 306

1200 - position N 28 deg 50.7' W 083 deg 36.2'

1300 - position N 28 deg 54.0' W 083 deg 41.1' speed 5.2 kts track 300 compass 330

1300 - raised main

1306 - secured motor

1336 - started motor. Position N 28 deg 54.8' W 083 deg 43.0' speed 6.3

These dolphins seemed to be having a lot of fun. There are certain people I know who could take some advise from these characters...

Of course, the film and the computer display cannot do justice to the depth and subtlety of the shades of blue of the water. It was clear and deep.

1400 - position N 28 deg 56.4' W 083 deg 44.9'

1500 - position N 28 deg 59.2' W 083 deg 49.2'

1501 - stopped motor and primed raw water heat exchanger again

1600 - position N 29 deg 2.1' W 083 deg 53.2'

This kind of sea weed appeared on the water a lot. It would tend to clump in areas of several yards across and dampen any ripples.

1700 - position N 29 deg 5.4' W 083 deg 57.3'

1800 - position N 29 deg 8.8' W 084 deg 1.6'

1900 - position N 29 deg 12.3' W 084 deg 5.8'

1903 - changed course to 303

1936 - secured motor

2000 - position N 29 deg 14.3' W 084 deg 8.4'

At this point the wind was minimal. The boat rocked a bit in the ripples. The main would make a rubbing sound every back and forth. I thought that a bit of saddle soap would take care of it. I couldn't find it so I got a bar of ivory soap. I lowered the main, smeared the bar over the rubbing part, then raised the main. No effect. I decided I had been a bit tentative. So I lowered the main and smeared great gobs of citronella wax from a bucket. After raising the main no more noise. I could sleep better and hear better anything going on outside. I took care of a couple of other minor squeakers.

2105 - position N 29 deg 15.6' W 084 deg 8.8'

2205 - position N 29 deg 17.1' W 084 deg 8.8'

2301 - position N 29 deg 18.1' W 084 deg 8.1'

Again I used the wake up every one hour, note position, and scan horizon routine

Also my dreams were not as intense

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