Today was our fist full day on the water. We had a terrific day with the screecher (big asymmetric spinnaker) which we had up most of the day. Top speed about 14 knots, but spent most of the day from 8 to 12 knots running downwind. Lots of fun and what a beautiful sail to watch. Right now, I’m on watch, it’s very dark and I just rolled in the aft jib. So we we are running with both mast foils perpendicular to the wind with the forward jib hiked out and running nearly down wind between 6 and 8 knots. Just before this tame configuration, Sven was on watch and I think he said we hit 16 knots running wing and wing.
We should arrive at Robinson Crusoe Island Sunday night late or early Monday and we may hang for a few days for the weather to be more favorable on our long leg to Easter Island.
However, the real gift today was the whales that came to joint us for about an hour. At first we thought they were Orcas but they didn’t have much white so we were a little perplexed.
Jerri is here with one just over her shoulder along with another picture of a couple that show’s a few different angles. Let me know what these marvelous creatures are if you can look them up on the internet.
Looks like it’s probably a Sei Whale — so cool!