Day 7 Running with the waves

Rock & Roll boat style
The good news is we found the wind. The bad news is it comes with waves. The waves are about 3 to 5 feet peak to trough and are moving south at about 15 to 20 knots. Peak to peak distance is about 1 ½ to 2 boat lengths. Watching the waves pass under Star and march off toward the horizon would be hypnotic except for motion they affect on Star. As an approaching wave catches up with us, the stern is thrust upward and causes the boat to turn right. Once the wave is under the middle of the boat, we turn left again. The net effect is that the boat makes a big figure eight - rise up, turn right, plunge down, turn left. Each cycle is about 12 to 15 second long.
Those of you have seen this type of motion know it is a 10 on the scale of things that cause motion sickness. Andy has been very troubled by it and I find that if I am below decks too long I also feel a little queasy. Thanks for the scopolamine patches we brought along.
An additional effect is that it makes cooking very challenging. The stove is gimbaled so it swings with the rocking of the boat but boiling water or hot bacon fat could be really dangerous if spilled by the rocking of the boat. Some of the changes from leaning right to leaning left are quite sever and we quickly find out what is not tied down properly. This is especially noticeable in the galley. Anything round rolls, Anything flat slides. Cooking requires bracing one’s self between the stairs and the counter and holding on one hand while performing all cooking motions with the other. (is that the way I will cook when I get home?)
Another effect is that the motion makes a really good ABs workout. Maybe this is the genesis of a new business in fitness machines.
For more pictures, see the Big Waves picture page.