2011 Trip 1 - Pacific Swift

Day 7 onboard is usually regarded as "ship Sunday" and today is no exception. All hands had an opportunity for a small sleep prior to a French toast breakfast up on deck. Many were shocked by the return of cloudy skies and cries of "it´s freezing!" and "I´m so cold" were heard as forgotten sweatshirts were dug out from bunks below. The fact that sandals and shorts still abounded made one think that perhaps we have just gotten a bit soft after the last several hot days. After breakfast we weighed anchor under sail in a great display of teamwork and raced the grace out of the anchorage piling on sail till the swift was sailing in "brigantine mode" ( courses, square topsl, main, main topsl) making a nice 6.5 knots over a steely sea. The sail carried us nicely all the way to anchorage, gently rolling across the strait  We are anchored up now in boat cove on lasqueti island for an afternoon of reviewing and testing. The junior sailors will be sitting their written tests today covering chartwork, sail theory, navigation safety and terminology. Another day seven tradition is the roast beef dinner. The cooks have been hard at work preparing the favoured feast with all the requisite trimmings. This evening we will have a simple service hopefully under the stars as the day is doing it´s best to clear up.