Under 600 Miles

Hello Westward Fans!

We've been busy since our last post. At the time of writing, we have just under 600 miles until our finish, so just a few days left!

We have seen a little bit of everything in our last day and a half or so. Westward and her crew have successfully weathered squalls, lulls, big waves, calm seas, blistering sun, and cold. We have done a few gybes, always trying to sail closest to rhumb line (most direct course to the finish). Our crew work has improved quite a bit.

The sailing has been great. We've all been practicing surfing Westward down waves and the "kids" are happy to finally know what all the hype has been about. There are long stretches of time when we're disappointed to only be surfing along at 13 knots. The past few nights, the night watch has gotten to sail down a beautiful moon river.

We have fallen into a great rhythm on board and are getting along well. We think we're plenty funny around here. You'll have to be the judge when we practice all our new jokes on you. We have found many more figurines and have a nice community going on the dinghy davits on deck. Every once in a while, during a sail change, the whole population is eliminated until we find them all and tape them back up. At the moment, we have about 12 on deck and have found enough more a second colony is going to be started down below. The boys have a facial hair competition going. Sam is winning, but he had a bit of a head start. Graham and Jon are neck and neck, but you'd still recognize them in pictures. Alli and Mara have decided to end their body hair growing competition.

Today is a day of celebration here on Westward. The whole crew would like to wish one of our key shore crew members, Shauneen Bell, a very happy birthday. We can't wait to see you in Hawaii!

Aloha!

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