Hello from Active House
It’s a beautiful warm spring day here on the North Atlantic, with bright and clear blue skies. It certainly feels like home is near as I am about 250 miles from the coast of Canada and I am tempted to turn left and visit home. The first few days of each leg are the most difficult ones. This leg was no exception with the first night full of thunder storms and squalls. At one point Active House was laid flat in monsoon rains and 45 knots of wind. All I could do was hand steer the boat sideways and hope that none of the rigging failed as the boat laid on it’s side and steadied itself. It has taken me until now on day three to dry out the boat and my clothing.
I completely missed my opportunity to utilize the gulf stream as I found myself too far east after the storms the first night. Now I have some ground to make up to get back to the front. I think being in port for the long stopovers is possibly the hardest part of this race as it takes two or three days at the beginning of each leg to get the racing motivation back. This leg was especially difficult as I’m leaving home once again and sailing away.
I was rewarded this morning by a visit from a family of dolphins; a mother and here young one put on a great display, swimming perfectly beside each other as if connected and even jumping out of the water three times just beside he boat. The young one seemed to have a big smile. My mood is always improved when the dolphins come by for a visit.
Take Care
Derek