It drizzled thru the night, but none of the predicted high winds materialized. However, rain and more rain was promised. Sitting in the cockpit with coffee, the uniformly gray sky appeared to lighten, giving us hope, but then a sudden sizzling sound was heard forward, growing in intensity and proximity with every second. Paula jumped up and looked over the bow. There was a wall of rain falling from the sky, sharply demarcated on the water by a line. Behind the line, she could barely see the anchored boats, forward of it, all seemed normal. She squeaked and rushed to close the two canvas cockpit flaps she’d opened to feel the breeze. Just in time too, as the cloudburst advanced over C Ghost, making a huge racket on the cabin top and obscuring vision in all directions. This has lasted at greater or lesser intensity all day.

Although the cockpit canvas is designed to repel water, this kind of downpour finds little ways to creep in. We left only the waterproof closed-cell cushions out and abandoned the cockpit for down below. Also, to Tommy’s eternal disgust, the small leak over the galley fridge that he has endlessly investigated and attempted to fix began dripping again, after many months of dryness even during rain.

What to do when closed in a small space in bad weather? Make chicken soup, of course!  Tommy ran the generator again (no sun for the solar panels today) as well as the watermaker, and  beat Paula roundly at chess. Then both of us got creative and each sat down and wrote an article. 

The day was livened by phone calls to and from family to give Mother’s Day wishes and catch up with the family activities.

The forecast shows continued rain for quite some time. We will see.

Paula served thawed and warmed shrimp with capers, a green salad, fruit and bread and butter for dinner. Chicken soup is always better the second day, so it is on the menu for tomorrow.