J. Sorensen

wind over the 2 days at lowest was 7 knots and greatest 22 knots we started out under full main alone making 6 to 7 knots until we were well offshore in which case the swell was big enough to make some banging, despite our preventer, Everytime Jeni surfed don a wave and came out onto a crest again. So we launched an asym spinnaker. That power and loft improved Jeni's movement through the swell, added speed and reduced the annoying snapping and banging of the main. The wind came up to 18 knots consistently and we had to consider taking Spinnaker down as her angle and velocity downward in the swell threatened to dip the spinnie in the water on some sets. The moment we spoke of socking the spinnaker, a larger than usual swell set came through and the autopilot was briefly overpowered as Jeni slid sideways long, rail and spinnaker foot streaking through the water as we raced down the wave. She recovered with no damage and just water washing through the open transom, but we set to socking the spinnaker and were again mainsail alone. You can actually see that near broach zooming in on the Sailties app on our course. Very cool. Rest of the night was rolly and we changed our course and angle to the wind a half dozen times looking to reduce the wear and tear on rig and main in the steep close swell. Morning was amazing with big moon setting and the sun rising simultaneously. The wind died off around noon to 7 knots and in the swell the snapping and banging of the sails in the trough was annoying and our speed was achingly slow. We turned on the engine, took down sails. I made fish and chips, Eric caught and released 6 giant tuna in his attempts to catch a dorado. At about 1:30 pm the wind came up again. We raised main and spinnaker and with wind, swell and course direction all magically aligned to enter Bahia Santa Maria, we were behind the headland before sunset. We turned on the engine and dropped sail, and just in time, as there were a zillion lobster pot buoys to dodge, it was like an extreme sports obstacle course to get to an anchoring area. We dropped anchor just at last light. Great trip! Thank you SailTies for recording it!