ATLANTIC HO! At 2 am on Geoff and Bruce's watch, the ocean began to kick up her heels. The reacher (jib forward sail) was furled as the confused seas coming from different directions sent the boat on a pitching, yawing, rolling motion--nothing dangerous, just wobbly requiring careful stepping and hand grab hold use. All crew when on deck during the hours of darkness, wear harnesses with a tether attached to a secure point on the boat. The goal being to always stay on board!
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| Jeanie, with all the safety gear on, readying for the 4am watch |
By 0400 (4 am), Bruce and Geoff had conjured enough wind to retire the iron genny. As Charlie and Jeanie took over the watch, the wind was in the north west rising to 18 knots. We were sailing a very respectable 8 knots under the reacher (genoa), perfectly balanced.
CRANKY AUTOPILOT: Unfortunately, randomly, the autopilot would erratically veer to the left with no apparent reason. We maintained a helms person always at the ready to pounce on the wheel and bring us back on course. We found if we responded, grabbed the wheel steering hard to starboard (right) within 1-2 seconds of the alarm, we could avert the autopilot trying to liven things up by doing donuts. Certainly kept us awake and on our toes during our watches.
The boat now
swishing along as the waves gurgled past her sides under the partially star
laden night sky,
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Dawning of a new day! |
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| Let the "real" sailing begin! |
Paradigm is an "open ocean" boat. You can just feel her dig in and heel but with a feeling of complete control. She carves a track through the waves effortlessly and comfortably. This is a boat to sail. Open ocean sailing gives one the most euphoric of feelings - complete freedom and total peace with the inner you. It's a feeling that is hard to truly define but those of us who enjoy the vastness of the open ocean, this is a feeling like no other.
At 10 am during Doug and Tami's watch, winds were more favorable. In came the reacher, out went the Solent (Genoa--larger forward sail) and main. The iron genny (engine) now wonderfully silent as the waves swished by the hull. Paradigm dancing as the waves began to even out coming from the same direction giving a more pleasant loping motion to her gait. Sunny skies with occasional clouds and a cool breeze off the water gave welcome relief to the summer heat.
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| This is for you Commodore!! A delicious home made moussaka whilst underway. Who would have thought I could cook girlfriends!! |
Sunset on the first full, wonderful day of ocean sailing.
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