Bill gave a fascinating Ted talk on clouds and weather yesterday. Entire crew hung on every well-delivered phrase. He has a gift for making the complex understandable. Great diagram too (see below, our shp’s lawyer says it is not copywrited)!. Winds now coming from the East, exactly on our nose, We are motorsailing with main only to keep closer to course, waiting for the wind to clock south. This is slow going! We are however enjoying the comparative calm and getting a bit of housecleaning done.
Yesterday lunch was tuna salad on homemade boat bread. Also had homemade cinnamon raisin bread. Wow Jackie. Jackie just now gave me a bowl of rice for after-lunch and I asked for butter on it, which she thinks is totally bizarre. Someone back me up here.
Mary’s prep of the laundry, bedding and towels for everyone was amazing. We all talk about how her little touches made this a better trip. Like the little clips for our water bottles, so perfect. You can see them in the picture, snug at the binnacle in all weather, instead of constantly tossing about. Thanks and love you. And by the way, you were so right on the towels, the one I hated is definitely my favorite. Everyone also has Mary to thank for insisting on the tracker.
Today I took a series of day-in-the-life photos. Please note that this was prior to housecleaning. Also note the view behind Tom, which is typical of our empty horizons.
MJ
St. Martin -> Newport 
Love the pics! Cheers to Mary! It takes a mom to think of water bottle clips and the right towels. However if I were the ship’s mom I would have packed your clothes in zip lock bags: t shirt, shorts, boxers, socks and labeled Monday, Tuesday, etc. I am proficient at this from the boys’ camp days. I will say the trunks came home with at least 10 days still in the bags. Jackie’s meals sound delicious! Bravo to the chef!
Dallas is experiencing the effects of Tropical Storm “Bill”. Lots of rain and some relief from the heat.
It’s definitely a “bad hair week”.
Loving reading the “sailing lingo”. My goal is to live in a “driving groove”. That sounds so great!!
Love to the Moondance crew!! God is holding you in the palm of His hand!
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Rice is like pasta, a conduit for almost made anything. Butter, Parmesan are two of my favorites. Looks like wind will pickup again on you STBD beam/quarter and stay there for awhile. You have had a great weather package and it looks to hold. It’s also interesting how your priorities change over time while at sea. Sleep becomes a real luxury and its rejuvenating benediction is so noticeable in ones mood. Food also takes on unsurpassed importance and Jackie et al seem to be honing in on that key. My biggest loss while at sea is space and a toilet that doesn’t move. Don’t really notice it till you get home and go OMG now I remember this…..
More fair winds
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This is Dana – yes, Bill, a very favorable SW wind filled in today and we are fast reaching directly towards Horta. And you nailed it on the changing priorities – Jackie’s menu is always a hit with the crew, I can now sleep on command, and I have yet to exit our head without a new bruise somewhere!
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Thanks for the great update. Sorry the wind is not cooperating, glad you get a little respite from the heeling, heaving deck 😉
Ted talks sound fascinating, what’l YOUR’S be on? ;))
Nice pics, looks like the slightly cooler weather is hanging on. Guess you’re sleeping well.
Best Wishes
Martin Fraser
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Hello everyone! I am absolutely fascinated with your trip. Mary Lutz is right, this is the best summer reading ever. I feel connected as if I am there with you, even from my comfortable chair at home. You have opened a whole new appreciation of sailing…… Looking up words like “foulies”, “port”, “tack” and “shipping lines”. I am truly impressed with your courage, skill, cheerefulness, and love of the sport. Kudos to my granddaughter Jackie with her culinary talents, I couldn’t be prouder.
Bless you all!
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Yes to butter on rice!!
Mary is so good at the details, you feel loved and cared for in the middle of the ocean! Love you Mary!❤️ The pictures are great!
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Rice with butter, yes! Dad always had his with milk and sugar, remember?
The pictures are great, I feel so fortunate to be able to read this blog everyday, I really look forward to your updates. Glad everything is going so smoothly! Jimmy was wondering if you have seen any other boats or ships at sea.
Prayers for all on board1
Love you, Carolyn
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Hi Carolyn! Saw two tankers early this morning, one 735 feet long. Often we see them on AIS but not in person. Closest we have come is 1.5 miles. We normally start tracking them about 30 miles away. Our GPS AIS system lets us know their vessel particulars (name. size, destination, speed, heading) and also calculates a “closest point of contact”. Very comforting to have that information.
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Yet, but, another enlightening update! Thank you!
What an awesome captain and super communicator you are! Gifted with a clear, rather poetic and artistic flair for writing! I know I speak for the masses when I say, we all appreciate you and those talents very much! Bill, it also continues to be most reassuring having your wonderful years of experience and expertise on board to help guide this awesome team. As if doing it once weren’t enough … but, doing it 39 times before! Geez Louise!
I’m sure The Teds Talks presented by Liz, Cam’ and your’s may have been of the calibre that’d draw crowds! ( the boat’s big, but not THAT big, so good you’re doing it in a ‘tough to get to’ spot! Knowing there’s five more talented crew on board yet to give their’s … more of a big draw!
AND, yes, Mary, THANKS!!! a MILLION times over!!! … for ‘insisting’ on the tracking component!!!! I can’t imagine being on this end without it! XoXo ❤️
I’m one of the few, (perhaps) who was checking Moondance’s progress back when it was updating every ~15 mins, (not just hourly as present!)
With that said, I also thank you for changing it to hourly updates… I’ve gotten a bit more home stuff accomplished since then! 😉
Cam, I was glad to see you getting some sleep! … and a bit more dressed in the more recent pics 😉 Love you, and continue to be with you, Liz, and all the Moondance crew! Continued safe travels!
… always with you … whether on a minutes, quarterly, hourly or whatever progress basis! 😉
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Wonderful post ! As usual 😉 Jackie keep on keeping everyone well fed… Have u caught any fish or r u moving too fast? Enjoy the day
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Woke up to these great photos and posts. I had absolutely no desire to sail out past 50 miles, though an avid sailor i am. Your stories and pictures have me wishing I was aboard. It is the greatest adventure and I can see your constant smiles. Thanks Mary for being the mom for this crew. Certain they would not have thought of comfort or connecting without you! Jackie, you ROCK! I love Liz with a my heart. However, if relying on her cooking you’d have a steady diet of pnut butter and all come back 10 lbs lighter. she’d rather work on physics equations, run a marathon or cross the Atlantic than cook. (Though I understand Jackie’s been giving lessons. The Ty zucchini was fab!). The idea of Ted talks is brilliant. Is anyone taping them? I would watch! You’re all looking settled and rested. Many prayers for you all and hugs too. Liz and Cam, I miss you like crazy but thrilled you get to experience this adventure together! Enjoy another spectacular day! Love Liz’s mom.
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