On the bounding main Day 1

We cast off at 8:20 aiming to go out the Beaufort channel around 9:30 to catch a slack tide (ie no water flow). We timed it about right with less than a knot of current and no waves as we went out the channel  

We were in line with about 10 other boats with the same idea

It’s a beautiful day with few clouds, temperatures in the low 70’s and a 18 knot breeze from the north. When we got to the end of the channel we turned right to head south, on a heading to clear the Frying Pan Shoals which sticks way out in the ocean near Cape Fear

We soon raised sails and we were sailing along at 7 knots...delightful!

The wind was behind us so we sailed “wing in wing” with the main out to standard and the Jib out to port there was lots of rolling but we were making great time. 

I had taken two Stugeron pills at 6am and happily felt fine (no seasickness) despite all the rolling. Drew took some pills later in the morning and Adam took some in the late afternoon. No one fed the fish

Judith and Haakon left a few minutes before us but we soon caught up and kept them in sight for the rest of the day. We chatted a few times on the radio, marveling at what a beautiful day it was

We sailed through the day and into the night making great speed (6.6  -  7 knots), only turning on the engine around midnight to charge the batteries. 

The wind started to die overnight and our speed decreased a bit but still made good time, covering over 140 miles in the first day

We decided on 3 hour watches, with me taking 6pm to 9pm, Adam took 9pm to midnight, Drew Midnight to 3am and then repeat with me taking 3am to 6am and so on. Watch will be informal during the day with people taking naps and whoever is awake taking the helm