Beauties layed ahead...

Hello again...

I could not stop jotting down about the lovely night we have just been
through: sitting at 9pm-1am watch, we had a lovely breeze of 20-25 knots
coming from behind, the spinnaker up. Again, strong concentration
essential at the helm with all the ocean swells of ~2m forcing the boat
for a turn, and strong trimming to keep up with the movement.
We had the most lovely view laying ahead of us through, a half moon
illuminating our route like a highway, and the boat gently steering on
this glimmering path. Merely chilly weather, not too many clouds. A
comforting conversation about what music may best accompany such a
lovely scene (Louis Armstrong, Norah Jones, Mozart, Charles Baker, Pink
Floyd were the top calls at the end)
To top up our pleasure a school of dolphins decided to join us, playing
all around the boat, jumping, drawing lines on water. My first dolphin
interaction on this trip:) They are such beautful and charming
creatures. (As may be imagined), I was completely overridden by
excitement, cheering them all the way... It has been a wonderful memory
captured...

The night had a great end to it as well: on our 5-9am watch, the wind
started dying out a bit. With the confidence daylight brings along, we
decided to change to a lighter weight spinnaker. And so came my next
moments of joy: going up the pole (2m above and 2-3m sideway to the
deck), setting the new spinnaker, hoisting and opening it, spiking the
heavier one to let it peel form over the new one. Such a lovely scene to
watch from the pole, it resembeled a flower blossoming, and definetly
looked cool. Cheerful, uplifting moments...

Finally, we were further greeted with good news that we were able to
pass Singapore overnight as well, now at 5th position. Slowly climbing
up the ranking:)

Forgotten to give one more news from eysterday: WE SAW WHALES! 2, medium
sized. Still they were pretty massive, and really flushing water as they
surface, just as is the stereotyped in the cartoons. I felt like I was
in a National Geographic scene. What an experience:)

So much so for the happy news about sailing. There has been quite a few
tough moments as well
The exhaustion is slowly building in. My shoulders are as stiff as a
rock and hurting desperately. Blame is on helming and trimming. I was
not expecting my shoulders to let me down to be honest, but here they
are...
I'm starting to feel the lack of sleep, particularly at the end of 1-5am
and beggining of 5-9am watches.
Everything and everyone has started to get smelly (almost a week out
without a shower, and lots of exercise are not the best combinations),
The toilets regularly giving us trouble by blocking, unscrewing the
pipes to identify the blockage, and getting rid of it (which, as
expected is not a clean, nice smelling piece of art) feel filthy.
A bit of a cold is running accross the crew, and many are not feeling
tip-top.
Well, these are the prices to be paid, and they are worth it. That's the
good news...
Still several things I miss dearly: showers, a sleep at a quiet and
stable place, also stability while using the toilet and toilet flush.

I'm heading back to my bunk for 2.5hrs of sleep now...
So take care and do keep an eye on me