Noon Update- July 16th- Spinnaker 2.0

So far so good. After a DIFFICULT time organizing and hoisting the Spinnaker this morning, following its mutinous swim yesterday, we are now sailing at 6-7 kts directly to Newport. I am extremely hesitant to compliment both the spinnaker and Harry, the auto helm, in the same breath. Let’s just say that until either finds a way to screw us over….they are doing wonderfully. We have just adjusted the ship’s clocks back another hour closer to East Coast time. We are now only 2 hours ahead. Here we come!! Breakfast has been eaten by most. Mattia enjoys a bowl of hot tea and corn flakes each morning. Last night involved much hand steering and some great star gazing. Being, for the most part, cloudless, Andres and I removed the Bimini (sun cover over the cockpit) and sat back to enjoy the show. Hand steering on a starboard tack (sails on the left side of the boat) with the Big Dipper perfectly placed to the right of the mast and Polaris bright even higher to the right can make even the quietist sailor rhapsodic. Andres talked about his teaching kids to sail and how he feels it changes their lives for the good. Night watches can be times of total quiet or softly spoken thoughts.
Warm regards to my brother-in-law Roger Fay on his birthday. I am sure you are not lacking in friends to celebrate with today! Enjoy!


Comments

Noon Update- July 16th- Spinnaker 2.0 — 7 Comments

  1. Thanks for the birthday wishes, no Bob this year! Lauren and Her husband Ryan surprised Roger last night with a visit for his day!! Tears all around, very nice!! Hope the weather continues to cooperate. Love you all! Cindy

  2. Downright poetic, Dan. We are made up of salty seawater and stardust so you are experiencing the essence of humanity out there: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/01/150128-big-bang-universe-supernova-astrophysics-health-space-ngbooktalk/

    “All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea — whether it is to sail or to watch it — we are going back from whence we came.”

    John F. Kennedy, Speech given at Newport at the dinner before the America’s Cup Races, September 1962

  3. Hello Dan and Crew — Wow — what great reading!
    I’m just checking in to this blog for the first time since your departure. This is a feast for my senses — thanks much.
    Loved the drone story and the spinnaker debacle!
    The beauty and fierceness of mother nature partnered by your resolute resiliency –all sprinkled with a perfect pinch of Culpepper humor– makes for a palpable read.
    Sounds glorious!!
    Happy and safe travels!
    cheers, jo-ann

  4. Jimmy Kimmel last night
    Thought you all would like an update

    The ABC late-night host called the meeting between the two leaders “a shameful day for America.”
    Jimmy Kimmel addressed Donald Trump’s press conference with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Helsinki Summit on Monday’sepisode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

    “Today was maybe the strangest of all 542 bizarre days of Donald Trump’s reign of error. Today may have been the weirdest,” began the host. “President’s been to Europe, insulting our allies and rubbing his nipples up against our enemies.”

    Kimmel then reminded the audience of Trump’s meeting with the Queen of England, in which he walked in front of her. “You’re not supposed to turn your back on the Queen or put ketchup in her tea or take the hat off her head and swat a fly with it. You’re not supposed to do any of those things, but that turned out to be nothing compared to what happened in Finland.

    “Helsinki has frozen over. The President of the United States today publicly sided with Russia over our own FBI on the subject of cyber attacks on our election,” said Kimmel.

    The host explained that before the press conference, Trump said that he was going into it with low expectations. “Yeah, we all were,” said Kimmel.

    He then pointed out that Trump and Putin met alone with their interpreters for nearly two hours before the press conference. “Reportedly Trump wanted to meet with Putin alone because he didn’t want his advisers to see him naked, which is natural.”

    Kimmel shared a clip from the press conference that features Trump denying Putin’s involvement with the 2016 election. “I don’t see any reason why it would be [Russia interfering with the election],” Trump said about Putin’s involvement. “If you’re wondering whether or not Vladimir Putin has incriminating video of Donald Trump, we now know, beyond a treasonable doubt, that he does,” responded Kimmel.

    A clip of Trump stating that Putin has made an “incredible offer” to have Russian investigators help the FBI was shared. “It is [incredible] in that it lacks any credibility whatsoever,” Kimmel joked. “Putin’s just having fun with this now. He actually offered to have his intelligence agents investigate the hacking of our election. That’s like Papa John offering to investigate who’s been saying all the racist stuff at the company.”

    “It was a total win for Putin and a shameful day for America, although Donald Trump didn’t go home empty-handed. After Trump praised Russia for their job hosting the World Cup, Putin gave his puppet a little gift,” said Kimmel. The host then cut to a clip of Putin handing Trump a soccer ball before the latter threw the ball into the audience for wife Melania.

    “And then Trump closed things out as only Donald Trump can. By switching gears back to the witch hunt,” said Kimmel before sharing a clip of Trump calling out FBI agent Peter Strzok’s congressional testimony in which he addressed his anti-Trump texts that were sent out during the campaign. “That’s right. Always close with your biggest hits. That’s the way to go.”

    Many Democrats and Republicans have been outspoken about their disapproval of the press conference, including former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kimmel shared a clip of Schwarzenegger referring to Trump as a “little wet noodle” and a “fanboy” of Putin during the press conference. He concluded the clip by asking Trump what is wrong with him.

    “When the guy who impregnated his housekeeper wants to know what’s the matter with you, there’s something the matter with you,” said Kimmel.

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