[password] rachel25,
[position] 13 48.89n 021 16.33w
[status] On passage from Brazil towards Cape Verdel
140miles to run, well actually beat, to get to Praia on the island of Santiago, Cape Verde. But we are not there yet and the "tradewind surge" is in full swing. Grey clouds and the wind 25+ knots. Makes for a bumpy ride. I have just furled the yankee (our main forward headsail) so we are left with staysail and double reefed main. This makes the ride smoother and the windpilot has less trouble coping with the steering. The speed drops accordingly but sometimes a quiet night is more important.
I managed to save a flying fish which had found its way onto our deck. Usually I find them dead but I heard this one land and managed to get him back to the sea. They are an interesting study in evolution. The lower part of the tail fin is elongated so that they can keep the tip of it in the water while they fly, presumably to provide propulsion and/or to steer. They seem to do this initially and then glide higher above the waves, perhaps using the uplift. Ana thinks they flap their elongated pectoral fins but I think they may just glide. Anyway the ability to leap out of the water and fly a few hundred metres is a good defence mechanism against marauding predators. Their sense of direction and landing technique still need a bit more honing, perhaps a few more 1000s of years evolution will fix it.
[speed] 5.5 knots
[heading] 300 degrees true
[weather] Wind N 25kts. 2m waves. Sky 100% high cloud. Baro 1004
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