Fiji to NZ - Day 5 - 15 Nov - Broad Reach and Bioluminescence

Hello,

I will keep this note short as my lovely night watch is almost over. Once again, I took the after-dinner watch and enjoyed the evening with Victoria, Johnathan, and Benjamin, until they each fell asleep on their own time. Benjamin slept in my arms for ages, and I was able to read a book (in 15-min increments, between scanning the horizon for squalls, traffic, etc).

The seas have calmed down, and the wind has backed behind us, so we are running downwind on a broad reach. The boat still rolls side to side as the ocean swells pass under us, but the motion is less disruptive than before. We still need to move from handhold to handhold to pass through the cabin, but it is much more comfortable. You can imagine how funny it is to watch Benjamin stumble from place to place :)

We are rocketing along at between 6-7+ kts with the wind behind us. It looks like we will gybe for the first time since Fiji within the next few hours, as the wind has backed towards the north to the point that our course is about 30 deg off our route. We have been on a starboard tack for so long that I will have to look around the boat and make sure that all the things that have leaned themselves against something to the right are not going to suddenly crash to the floor when the boat heels to port!

We are back in the realm of bioluminescence. Even though I know that there are rational, scientific reasons for the lovely points of light that tumble around the wake of the boat, I can't help but think that we are surrounded by fairies and other happy spirits. With countless stars in the clear sky and joyful lights in the water, this is a magical place to be.

Everyone has their sea legs, we had our third meal of fresh tuna for dinner, we are settled onto a watch rotation that seems to work, and we have passed the half-way mark (duly celebrated with a bag of salt & vinegar chips). All is well.

Love to everyone,
Elizabeth
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At 11/15/2015 6:58 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 27°33.88'S 172°59.97'E
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At 11/15/2015 2:36 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 28°24.87'S 173°16.30'E

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