04/01/12 - Tenacious

The silver moonshine on the rolling waves was our introduction to the day.
We arrived on the bridge at 0350 just as the moon had set, one wonder was replaced by the next as the starry night was now revealed all the more brilliant for its subtlty. Our eyes were spoiled for choice as shooting stars rained down from above every 10 to 15 minutes and below hormonal bio-luminant plankton glowed as small points of blue-green in our wake. We later found out that we had been lucky enough to be sailing below a meteor shower called the quadrantids.
Daybreak revealed to us the rolling swell that was nudging us along, whipped up into white caps by a brisk 20 knot wind. The bow sprit was drawing ever larger circles and soon the starboard portholes were turning into small churning washing machines as they dipped below the waves. We even got a taste of things to come with a few waves finding their way gushing across the waist.
After our watch had been relieved we had a hearty breakfast and a short rest before our sail setting talk by John the Mate. This was followed up by even more food in the shape of our cake and tea at smoko. A few were treated to a fleeting sight of a large turtle as it drifted past our starboard rail, thanks to the keen eyes of Mary. Our next task was to set the sail ominously named the Spanker. After a considerable amount of heaving, easing and tweaking the sail was set and we remained up-spanked by it. The rest of the afternoon rushed by in a haze of wind and wave and before we knew it we were sat in the upper mess enjoying pork and vegetables and mopping up wayward gravy.
Matt (and Mike, Patricia, Louise, Dave, Andy & Katherine) - Fwd Starboard