April 18

We just lost three days of progress; one day beating south to avoid a band of storm force winds, and two days hove to in the ensuing gale. We're screaming NNE right now on a close reach at 7+ knots under yankee, staysail, deep reefed main, and reefed mizzen. I didn't think she could do that. So far, we've had headwinds for almost every inch of 1700 miles. Between the waves into the Dorade, the leaky skylight frame and prisms, and the salt water we track in, everything's damp. I filled my boots with seawater soon after departure, so I don't bother with dry socks; I just put the same wet ones back on for each watch.