Heading west in the trades!

Sitting on gun-deck after a beautiul morning-watch. Took a reef in the
fore top-sail, and sorted out some mistakes made by another watch when
they reefed the main top-sail. It's not hard to understand what you're
doing out here a morning like this. While reefing the fore top-sail,
we could see the biolumnicensce created by dolphins playing in the bow
wave. Later, alone on the main top yard, 30 meters over the sea, the
sun was rising over an untouched horizon. A relaxed breakfast and
after that coffee on deck. It's awesome out here, wish you all could
be here!!

So, what have we been up to since last time? We left Singapore the
14th, at last, it's always nice to get going. After all..., both ships
and seamen rot in port! We used the iron main-sail for two days, that
is the engines. And after clearing the Strait of Malacka we set sail
and have been sailing since. We had a day of very weak winds, but
except for that we've been sailing close-hauled on the starboard tack
in winds between 10 and 25 knots. Taking a reef here and shaking it
out there. Setting the top-gallants and taking them down a couple of
hours later. Really nice sailing!! The temperature is between 26
during the nights and maybe 34 during days and the sun is shining as
long as the stars dont show.

We start to get the watch going and it's really fun to work with a
group like this. They all have brains enough to remember what you told
them the day before, except for an early mornings here and there.
Makes it more fun when you dont have to spend the days repeating
yourself. It's also a very social crew. I had my doubts the first days
at sea. The ship was quiet after 8.30 and you could ask yourself how
they all managed to sleep that much, but I suppose it was about
getting into the routines. Now the ship is alive. After we (midships
watch) had the sunday entertainment yesterday, we all sat on deck
under the stars and sang for a couple of hours before heading to the
bunk.

In general, there is more time to relax then on my earlier voyages.
You dont have to work during every single free watch and can spend
time reading a book in the sun without feeling bad about it. Really
nice, even though it is good fun to skylark a bit and do all the fun
jobs in the top iif the masts....:D After all nice when you can do it
the days you feel like it. I suppose the decreased amount of work
required has it's explanation in the fact that the ship is kind of
finished. Everything is adjusted and fitted to work as well as
reasonably possible. Chafing gear is fitted and all the small details
down below makes life easier. Like the A/C. God praise the A/C!! It's
probably around 30 degrees in the crew quaters, but that's nothing
compared to what I experienced a year ago on the way to Brazil. You
can sleep without waking up totally soaked and your bed is actually
dry when you go to bed in the evening. Fantastic!!! And thats where
I'm heading now for a couple of hours before lunch.

Have a good one and take care!

Your pirate in the Bay of Bengal /Björn

{ elev37.gotheborg@rabt.se }