Today was a great day to be on the water. It was just above zero, and the sun was shining! There was a good wind coming from the starboard quarter (which was SE) which gave us about three meter seas. Maybe four on the odd big one. It was enough to get the ship rolling and pitching, but not in an uncomfortable way. Enough to remind you that yes you arein fact on a ship in the Atlatic ocean.
My work started off with stitching up our torn Canadian ensign (flag), which is flown off the stern. It was pretty badly torn and my repairs with a needle, thread, and sailmaker's palm took until morning coffee break, which is around 10. The rest of the day was spent greasing more winches, and testing the emergency towing system, which is basically a three inch diameter cable we can putboff the stern so we can be towed if we ever lost our main engine.
One of the most amazing parts of today was passing the first bit of land we had seen since the the day before. Since it was isolated, and we were clearly extremely far from PEI, I figured it must be the French islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon. I ran up to the bridge to loom at a chart and see, and sure enough it was! Very cool to sail past France while sailing to Newfoundland. The rest of the day was just beautiful blue and turquois (sp?) water all around, with waves lapping up around us as we rollind towards them. We passed by two super tankers as well. Likely over 1000 feet in length and 150 in beam, but that was the inly sign of human life today (other than picking up cell service from a French company when we passed St. Pierre.
Tonight, I plan on getting some sleep before we get into St. Johns around 3 am. On of my fellow guys on deck is covering my morning watch because I covered his 4-8 in PEI two nighta before (he lives there and wanted to go home). That way I can sleep in a little and explore St. Johns for the first time! Goodnight.
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