[password]seabird14
[position] 00 22.9 N 028 43.3 W
[heading] 020T
[speed] 5.9kts
[weather] 10kts SE, seas 1m NE swell and 1m SE, cc 20%, 1012 mb, 87F
[status] DAY 16 1991 nm to Barbados. Stbd beam reach sgl rf main and Code zero, 5.3kts at 015T. After a little over 4 hours of battling with the Code zero sail, we finally got it deployed late yesterday afternoon. We managed to detangle the top and bottom ends of the sail, completely unfurling the sail along the deck so that we could get to the luff and untwist it. This was a major task from the standpoint of the fact that it is a HUGE sail, with a luff much longer than Kailani's deck, and a constant worry that with so much sail area all over the deck, any puff of wind could take it all overboard. We decided to hoist it without refurling it, so much like a race crew (minus about 6 burly dudes) we hoisted the fully unfurled Code zero behind the jib while on a beam reach. Jen hauled the halyard up, Harl worked to keep the sail from flying off the deck (and to keep himself on board). Once fully hoisted, Jen ran back to the cockpit and sheeted in the clew, at which point Jen and Soph furled the jib. Done! The "whomper" as we call the Code zero, started drawing on the very light winds and Kailani was sailing along in 7kts of breeze with a speed of 4kts. Throughout the night we vigilantly chased puffs of winds associated with many squalls, keeping that Code zero full with winds from 4 to 11 kts. We crossed into the Northern Hemisphere just at sunrise, and have been sailing along sweetly since. Only problem is that here, north of the equator, we have found SE winds at 10kts. Regardless, we are pleased to have wind moving us along, and know eventually those NE trades will fill in. Meanwhile, we are making plans for a DOUBLE celebration. We are under 2000nm to go, and we crossed the equator. This marks the third time as a family we have crossed the line, and three being our favorite number, we will celebrate accordingly.
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