Animados, a pesar de todo ...

l: 37* 59,35' N
L: 22* 14,03' W
Dist.reecorrida: 3101'
Viento NE, F-4 (17 nudos)
Rv: 102*

La verdad es que Jose y Pablo no han tenido mucha suerte al elegir el tramo en el que debian embarcarse ... Desde que salimos de Horta el tiempo es bastante malo, apenas hemos visto el sol, la temperatura ha bajado sensiblemente, los chubascos se suceden uno tras otro y la navegacion no puede ser mas incomoda: fuerte escora y constantes saltos por las olas, con sus corresponientes y sorpresivos rociones ...
Pero despues de dos dias navegando en las mismas condiciones, han vencido su estupor inicial y ya han racionalizado que no navegamos por las bahias de Chesepeake o de Santander. Ahora estan totalmente integrados en las tareas de a bordo y colaboran como el mas motivado de sus tripulantes. Tanto es asi que Borja disfruta de la tranquilidad que le da el sentirse ascendido en la escala de "oficiales" del buque.
La noche ha sido bastante fria y desapacible, con una humedad que se mete hasta los huesos, sin necesidad de que los constantes rociones y chubascos ayuden a ello. La estupenda luna llena, de la que esperabamos disfrutar en estas dos noches pasadas, apenas ha asomado entre las nubes, como tampoco lo hace el sol durante el dia. Por lo demas nada que senyalar durante las guardias.
Aparte de las incomodidades anteriores, que la tripu aguanta con estoicismo (bueno Borja protesta un poco mas contra estas inclemencias, pero lo aguanta) la navegacion esta siendo extraordinaria. El viento permanece constante en direccion, con una intensidad que varia entre 11 y 18 nudos, lo que nos esta permitiendo hacer casi 200 millas por dia. El barco responde estupendamente y aguanta tanto machaque y pantocazo sin averias adicionales, al menos de momento.
Como decia, la tripulacion esta animosa y motivada, sin que el cansancio de las casi 500 horas acumuladas saltando sobre las olas, haga mella en el animo de nadie.
Jose ha olvidado que tiene bolsillos y corre raudo alla donde haga falta una mano para tirar de una escota o montar un rizo. Esta deseando que las noches se aclaren para observar las estrellas, mientras tanto lee lo que pilla para aumentar sus conocimientos sobre astronomia. Pablo deja frecuentemente la musica para cojer un winche u ocuparse del carro de la mayor y pasa un frio de muerte en la guardia de madrugada. Ademas se ocupa de traducir al ingles los posts que publicamos, desde que Marta decidio delegar sus funciones ...
Juan combina a la perfeccion su tarea de cocinar las velas con la de trimar las salchichas ...
Borja sigue protestando de lo que puede, en particular contra el "weatherman" por no traerle el sol, a la vez que perfecciona una curiosa habilidad que ha desarrollado durante la travesia: cada vez que se asoma a cubierta, nos cae un chubasco ... En otras circunstancias esto pudiera reportarle algun beneficio, pero aqui va a conseguir que le encerremos en el pozo de anclas ...
Yo me sigo peleando con el Iridium este para tratar de cumplir la tarea que Marta me asigno (endilgo) de mantener la comunicacion de Badum con el mundo exterior.
Y el capi, a la vez que da las instrucciones pertinentes para que Badum mantenga el rumbo correcto, contempla satisfecho como la Peninsula Iberica se empieza ya a perfilar en el "chart-plotter" de a bordo.
Mientras tanto, lejos de aqui, Marta y Luis se dedican a sus menesteres rutinarios y se muerden las unyas por no llegar con nosotros a Mazagon ...
Manyana mas.

In English please,
It would be fair to say that Pablo and Jose have not been too lucky with the weather. Since leaving Horta, the weather has been moderately bad, we have barely seen any sun, the temperatures have decreased steadily, and the rain keeps on coming down one after the other, thus the onboard conditions could not be much more uncomfortable, with our constant 20degree heel starboard and ups and downs from the waves.
But after two days of rough sailing under these conditions they have grown into the crew are have realized that we are no longer sailing through the Chesepeake Bay. They are very integrated in the duties aboard and they help out whenever possible. So much so that Borja is enjoying the tranquility and feels as though he were ascended to an ´oficial´ on the Badum.
The night was quite cold and unpleasing, with high humidity and occasional rain. The full moon which we had been waiting for has barely shown itself through the heavy clouds we are covered with, same goes with the sun during the day. Other than that, nothing else to spot out during the night shifts.
Asides from the difficult conditions that most of us have learned to live under, some like Borja try to find any little thing to complain about, the sailing has been marvelous. The wind remains in a constant direction and varies between 11 and 18 knots, which is allowing us to travel almost 200nm each day. The boat is responding very well to the more extreme conditions that it is having to sail under for such a long time. We have not encountered any futher problems with it, at least to this point.
As I said before, the crew is very motivated and excited to continue, regarding the almost 500hours that we have spent aboard jumping up and down throughout the deck.
Jose has forgotten that he has pockets and runs to wherever help is needed. He is hoping for clearer nights to observe the stars , but in the meantime he is kept busy with the astronomy book onboard expanding his knowledge in that field. Pablo leaves behind his Ipod more and more in order to pick up a winch or to take care of the main sheet, nonetheless he spends his nightly shift from 1am-4am shivering on deck. He is also in charge of translating the posts that we write for all of you out there that are following us from firm land.
Juan does an outstanding job with his two main tasks, the kitchen and the trimming the sails.
Borja keeps on complaining, particularly against the weatherman so he can bring us sun. He has developed a curiously interesting new trait, whenever he comes up on deck, he brings with him some rain...
Pepe keeps on fighting with the Iridium in order to maintain the Badum connected with the outside world.
And as for the captain, as he makes sure that the boat is headed towards the right direction, he looks at the 'chartplotter' with more and more satisfaction each time as he sees that the Iberian Penninsula grows closer everyday.
More from us tommorrow;

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