Lucky Days!

On other boats on which I have been crew, after five days offshore they look a bit grubby and tired, however clean they started out from port. Not so LA, and especially on this passage. The Shaubie gang know lots of stuff, but they are easily the world's best cleaners! Nancy has been cleaning and polishing below decks, and Jim has been scrubbing down the cockpit, and I must say, LA is gleaming all over. True, now we have gathered some salt on the decks, after bashing through some short choppy stuff upwind on the motor. But at least it's clean salt! Yesterday was "Hump Day" aboard LA, for which tradition we thank our good friend and offshore companion, John Parker. Half way through a passage we are 'over the hump' and sailing downhill. It's time to have a little celebration, and so with dinner (Boeuf Borguignon) we get a choice of either a beer or a glass of wine, and the traditional LA toast to fine crew and to all old men of the sea - not just John FK & John P! Early on Saturday morning (at 0220) we ran out of wind - why does that always happen on JFK's night watches? - and we have been motoring all but a few hours ever since. We went for two days with no contacts, but have seen three ships in the last few hours Thanks to our AIS receiver, we know the one we just saw was called 'Lucky Sunday', and as she passed safely four nm astern of us, we first thought how apt: but then we decided it was a bit inappropriate, as it was not luck but our fine watch keeping that kept LA safely out of her way this lovely Sunday afternoon. :) We have just 260 nm miles to St David's head, off the Eastern point of Bermuda, and if we get the forecast shift to North Westerly and then Westerly winds, we will have a good sail and be in port Tuesday mid-day.
Best to all, John Nancy and Bro' Jim
Sunday June 5, 2011 1430 AST 28.12N 65.30W Winds NNE 15; motoring at 2,500 rpm on heading 032m making 5.5kts against wind & waves. 635 nm logged so far.