9) Between Corsica & Menorca, Spain

Mediterranean between Corsica & Menorca, Islas Baleares, Spain

Puerto de Fornells, Menorca, Islas Baleares, Spain 40° 03.9 N 04° 08.2 E

Last night looking east we were able to see the lightning in a storm.  It was probably the system we saw earlier in the day that had moved over Sardinia.  Since the beginning of the trip we have transited with no moon.  The nights have been very dark.  But, the stars have been magnificent.  Venus rises when the sun sets and it sets soon after.  It is so bright that it is visible well before dark.  Mars rises with the unmistakable hue of a dirty red.  Falling stars are all over.

The seas had calmed down last night about 830pm.  Calm just means that the seas were about 2-4 feet and we could actually tell the difference.  Alan has unfortunately been down and afflicted with seasickness. 

I came on watch at 3 am.  Managed to get some sleep since 10pm.  My watch was uneventful.  Read some of my book, listened to my mp3 player and tried to stay comfortable.  Some soreness has settled in.  It is expected.

The best news of all is that since the seas calmed down and the boat is more efficient our arrival time has been moved up.  We expected to arrive before sunset and we arrived at 5:30pm.  This leg was estimated at approximately 242 miles and turned out to be about 270.  The black line running east from Corsica is the planned route to Menorca.  The red line indicates our actual route from Bonifacio, Corsica.  There is a break in the line because at that point the power to the computer was interrupted and we lost the tracking line.  The sharp left turn was the latter part of the rough period we went through on Monday night.