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January 29, 2008
Day 3, Coast of Colombia
Wall of Water
Running downwind is a strange feeling. While it is blowing 30 knots, it feels like 20ish knots with the wind behind us. It also means that the weather (aka rain, clouds, storms, etc.) come from behind, which is generally not the way we are in the habit of looking when going forward. It also means that instead of seeing the big waves coming at you while looking forward, they tend to climb up behind and occasionally crash into the stern. I have tried many times to get a photo of this, with little true effect. This photo may be closest to what it feels like to see a wall of water creeping up behind you, moving slightly faster than the boat.
Shortly after sunrise, we reefed the main in building winds, and eventually we were sailing dead downwind with only the staysail in 30 knots of wind. Mid-afternoon, we surfed off a swell doing 12.7 knots! Marciano was at the helm and claimed the record for the fastest speed recorded on PorFin.
Posted by dave at January 29, 2008 02:29 PM