0600 Position: 8* 28’ S and 137* 13’W
Course: 280 True
Winds Easterly at 8 knots
Seas are 3 feet
David is the net controller for the Pacific Seafarers net. Coffee is on and Armon has hit the rack.
Have I mentioned how wonderful it has been having Armon join us on this crossing. He is the most amazing first mate as well as a wonderful person. There is no task that he will shy away from - and believe me - he has volunteered to do some pretty shitty ones - pun intended. It will be very difficult to have him leave us. But we will not think about that today as that day is still several weeks away.
News from the net has Impulsive reaching landfall this morning. All is well on Batu and Harlo Hut. We also talked to Mike again on St. Leger - anchored in Guaymas waiting see about summer moorage. Here we are in the Southern Pacific Ocean talking to a guy in the Sea of Cortez whom David used to work with on B.C. Ferries. Too much.
0800: Received a couple of good emails from my sister Susan. She had been forwarding our progress to my cousins and in return they were sending her comments. She put them together in an email - great to hear from everyone. And also a long newsy one from her! She is going to the Sault next week to help get my Mom set up for home support. Conflicting times for me - part of me wants to be there also to help out in what ever way I can. But I also know that this is a once in a lifetime dream and Mom would not want me to be cutting the adventure short or not enjoying it to the fullest. I’m sure that I am not alone in these thoughts for many people who decide to do this - make a decision to leave family and responsibilities behind for a while. It is a choice that we make and we are so fortunate to have families that support us in that choice.
We are still having a bit of trouble with the preventer - just too much stress from the following sea and the resulting rolls. The course that we are trying to steer is just so fine because of the direction of the wind - a few degrees off 270 in combination with a big swell and the boom starts banging. The preventer has already lost its grip several times this morning.We cannot rely on the wind vane to keep such a tight course so we are basically hand steering.
Side Bar: The colour green tends to leave your senses after 25 days at sea without it. You are exposed to all shades of blue, white to grey to black, a little yellow, pink, orange and red from the rising and setting sun but no green.
Another sense that I have noticed is smell. Or rather the lack of it.I am talking about the smell of the ocean - not the smell of each other, dirty clothes, the slop pail and the garbage - though we do quite good at minimizing them. But the sea has no smell out here. I think the smell of the sea comes mainly from its association with the land. If you have ever been on the East coast of Canada you would notice that the smell of the sea is quite different from the West coast of Canada. And the smell of the sea in the tropics is different than the smell around the Baja Peninsula. But out here there is no vegetation and consequently no smell - except for the dead flying fish on our deck!
The only fish the boys caught! Good thing the freezer is still full!
For a person who cooks by her nose and is the first person to notice that the propane has been left on or the above mentioned doors need tending to - I find this quite bizarre.
1030: Altered course to 255* Looks like another gorgeous day. David made contact with the Marquesa net - lots of Australians and New Zealanders. The boat that was overdue at Nuku Hiva has finally showed up. Glad to hear that they arrived safely. - double the expected time.
just waiting for Armon o wake up so I can make Apple Pannekoken with bacon.
1200 Noon Position: 8* 24’ S and 137* 40’ W
SOG 5 K
COG 270*
Mainly sunny
Winds ENE at 10 Knots
Distance travelled in 24 Hours: 100 nm
Total Distance Travelled to Date: 2732 nm
Today the water is the same colour as the dodger and bimini! It is incredible!
1800 Position: 8* 30’ S and 138 08’
winds are from the NE at 10 knots
Course is 250* T
Speed is 5 knots
1930: We have decided to start the motor for two reasons. the batteries need recharging - for some reason the solar panels are not keeping up. We think that there is enough sun but maybe the main is blocking it. And the radio is using up a lot of our energy.
Second reason is to give the boom and its hardware and the lines a break. So we brought down the main and put it to sleep. The following seas will probably take us right into port so we will probably motor for the last night. We still have half of our fuel - David is very impressed.
2110: and a bright yellow moon rises in the East. Chicken Parmesan for dinner.
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