Pacific Odyssey - Leg 2

Today was a somewhat more trying day, though each day has its easier and not-so-easy parts. Last night we had wind squalls with lashing rain that lasted 1 1/2 hours; the sky was very dark all around the boat, trainee Jamie said she couldn´t see anything, it was probably the blackest night she had ever experienced. Because we had to keep all the hatches and skylights closed during the long squalls, the temperature below was quite unbearable, most of us were uncomfortably hot, wanting to go on deck in the rain to cool off. In the early morning the wind died to near nothing, then it went to SE and we were heading into it, making very little headway. At noon we altered course more easterly to try to increase our speed and to ease the motion somewhat. The motion is extreme again, fore and aft as well as side-to-side. Some of the trainees felt seasick again; not nice. The sky remained cloudy for most of the day which was a nice change from the intense sun. Katie made 2 batches of 2 litres of yogourt for the first time today, in the new Yogotherm cannisters.  Good game of ´Big Bootie,´ a clapping game, happening on deck
this afternoon. Tonight we held a service in the stern, turned the engine off for an hour (the boat set her own course back to Victoria) and sang some songs, listened to Jeremy tell us ´his story´ and to Skipper read a chapter out of Brian McLaren´s  "The Story we Find Ourselves In."  All very interesting to think about, provided us with more questions to look into. I was reminded of how much I had planned on doing, how little of it I am accomplishing. I hear the same from others: "We thought there would be so much time out here."  The days go by quickly, we spend most of it talking with one another, which is wonderful. Being out at sea though is also an excellent place and time to think, to read, to explore ideas, to grow in areas we may not have the time for ashore, yet...even here, I realize, I need to schedule it in, make a point of doing it. Till tomorrow, good night, Bonice.