A Day of Firsts

Oct 17 2009 9:30AM

It was a day of firsts. My first sail on the Atlantic. My first * offshore *
sail in the Southern Hemisphere (having done a beercan race in Sydney Harbor
once). It was the anniversary of my first birthday (I won't say which
one . ). And it was the first time I'd ever eaten a banana on board a boat.

Sailors are a superstitious bunch - and taking bananas on a boat is thought
to bring all sorts of bad luck. So are rabbits and, for that matter, women.
Aboard XPLORE we have two of these three vices - but perhaps our lack of
hares will spare us any ominous fate. (Alas I have no lack of bad 'hair'
onboard .)

Yesterday morning - five weeks after my arrival in South America - we left
the erratic, sprawling skyline of Buenos Aires astern; departing through
narrow marked channels in the chocolate milky water. A smudge of pollution
spoiled the blue sky. It was sunny, and warm.

We continued east all day and night, past the red tower at Punta Piedras,
and into the widest part of the Rio de la Plata, where the river yawns into
the Atlantic: with Punta del Este at the top, and Cabo San Antonio (at the
foot of Bahia Samborombon - love the sound of that name) at the bottom. The
lowlands to starboard faded into the dimming lumes of distant cities as
night fell. Now it's Saturday morning: soon we'll pass Mar del Plata, and
there the land will fall away, leaving us 100 miles or so out to sea ---
alone, save for the random ship on the horizon, and birds-a-plenty. XXOO -
Betsy

LAT 36 39S LON 56 17W

PS -- Penguins! The muddy river water has faded into the most beautiful
green-blue sea. Cozy clusters of Magellanic penguins bob in the swell;
disappearing and appearing as the waves rise and fall - like a shooting game
at an arcade. Albatross, terns and petrels keep us company as well.

All are well: we've had an easy first days of sailing which has helped us
all get acclimated. And now it's siesta time . I'm on watch again in three
hours! ~ XXOO Betsy

NOTES

To Donnie: Happy Birthday Bro!

To Sue & the Chicas: Good luck! Be Nauti!

To Holly & Crew: Many Happy HA-HAs to you!

To Mom & Dad: Thanks for having me! Love you!

To All: I've been blessed with so many friends and loved ones ;-)Thank you
all for the birthday wishes, love and support. MUAH!