Ah! Morning coffee on Ventus

 

view over coffee2:09 AM on July  7, 2016

My view with coffee this morning!

Watt and Sea hydrogenerator hums along and keeps up with electrical demands even when going slow it’s an nice change from charging with engine.

I have settled into a routine.   Basic plan is to not go further south in search of breeze.  The tropical storm/hurricane has my attention.   I am amazed by the southern ocean racers who actively seek out storms.    I am going to take to slow route from here.  It’s beautiful

Haute Cuisine for Ventus

ventus ChrisCartwright_1488 4c_160

A few years ago I came across the YouTube videos of Ronnie Simpson in his Moore 24 Hope for the Warriors. I was impressed by his story. …. Very inspirational

I also remember seeing him eat and drive the boat with kite up at same time.    I thought I want to do that ……. I still want to. Well done.   I’ll be eating smashed crackers and deck cheese tonight

 

C

Nav Station: Sitting room only on Ventus

Chris at the Nav table

For me one of the hardest parts is managing other people’s expectations leading up to the trip or managing what I think they except.

 

I have always loved sailing the feel of the invisible force propelling a boat forward.  I love a boat that balances out and feels good to drive.   I ended up with a j/88 because I made the mistake of trying it and loved the feel and responsiveness.   I didnt purchase the boat because I want to race or necessarily go fast    There is always someone going much faster.   One of my fond memories was sailing with a friend on sf bay going 4 knots in a j/24 and being passed by and AC boat ygoing 40 (ish)

 

I know many people look at my boat and think fast and assume I am trying to race.   I am not.   I am trying to learn about myself and have this experience and it is the boat I have now.  I am in the middle of my life (perhaps it is the classic midlife crisis) but I am trying to sort some things out.

I have been fortunate to have had contact with some excellent sailors who helped guide me through the myriad of decisions.  Sails electronics n electrical systems and on and on.   Because of their background most of the stuff and decision most things are go fast oriented.

So far the boat is performing beautiful. And I am managing.   I have found I enjoy the open water but miss the company of other people both for problem solving and just companionship.   It is probably a good thing for all of us to develop some comfort with being alone.  And this is one of my challenges for this passage.

I saw the tropical storms predicted to cross our paths and thought hard about diverting to Santa Barbara.

More from Ventus on July 4

chris on the slant
July 4.  No fireworks and able to eat my first freeze dried meal ….yay for the nutrition.   Now that brain has some
Glucose trying to figure out plan for rest of race.Despite having a fast boat and lots of input from very very good racers my goal has always been a fun sail.   I am juggling the usual rhumb lines vs what expedition (routing software) tells me.  So far I have basically been sailing comfortable angles towards Hawaii.   Ihave been below Polars in part because I have no crew and probably not sailing to max. I see a couple tropical storms in the future and have some concerns about them.   It appears I should be able to get in ahead of them.

July 4 from Ventus

ventus ChrisCartwright_1488 4c_160

July 4, 2016

I “met” Jeane Socrates (Nereida). At about 0200 today as our Bows crossed.  Lovely lady. Mal du mere improving and hoping to see some sunshine soon. I keep thinking the overcast is thinning. But probably my imagination. Starting to get into a rhythm with the boat.  It’s become nicer sailing each day.  Please correct any typos as the saltwater has given me even fatter fingers.

 

Messages from Offshore

Chris Cartwright on Ventus

From Chris Cartwright on Ventus Photo by NorCal Sailing

July 3, 2016 6:59 AM  Please edit for grammar.  Hard to type

Last night was thrilling/scary.   Winds built to a solid 25 with higher gusts and seas 8-12 feet.  Ventus going 10-12 knots with double reefed main and small jib.  Visibility was Nill.  Boat was great. Skipper has a bad case of mal du mere. Slowing boat down today and making some recovery.    Kites are begging to be launched as winds have eased.   But given time and better stomach. Some wifi issues but solved for now.   Engine charging working well.

 

From Chris on Ventus 15:59 2 July 2016

ventus ChrisCartwright_1488 4c_160

A little rusty from not enough sailing and much planning.
Managed o start cleanly which was my only goal.  1/2 way across bay before finally got reefs tucked in

Fast lane suprised me with a close port crossing.  No need for coffee

Outside the gate it became very light.  One of the Olson put up a Genoa and reeled me in quickly.

I am trying hard just to get west now and into synoptic breeze.

For months I had imagined cracking off and going south.  Not today

Boat moving well going west with south swell.