Rarotonga Surf

August 12

Prep for departure and slammed social calendar (not even mentioning the ever- present indolence) has played havoc with sluicing out this tripe, so expect a prosaic version today.

Ran around doing stuff, important stuff, like locating a cone of hand-dipped ice cream, buying a bottle of dark Jamaican rum and schmoozing with friends and Cook Islands Coast Guard. There were also a few items that may have had something to do with not starving or bobbing around mid-ocean for extended periods or getting arrested by one or another country. Prefer not to be bothered and have forgotten tedious details.

Sky has cleared and wind eased on backside of passing weather system, but temperature is still nearly arctic, having gone well below the tropical acclimation freezing point of 75f (24c). Expect to swaddle delicate, pinkish-tan epidermis in wool blankee following usual evening hygienics.

Departure tomorrow, to be delayed by promised report to Polynesian Breakfast SSB Net at 0730 - or was it the Penguin Net at 0900? - on conditions in Rarotonga will leave little leeway with light winds for arriving Palmerston on Sunday, but sailing superstition double whammy of beginning a voyage on Friday the thirteenth is way too cool to resist.

Jack