Sunday 6 April 2014

Wind lasted until 2100, then became too light to prevent sails from banging on a gentle, leeward roll. Engine, running since then, will probably be necessary now until arrival in 24 hours. This morning, as a long, lazy Pacific swell rises up from the west, sea is glassy with darker, ripple streaks from tendrils of breeze that periodically touch the surface. At 0900 it's already warm and humid, to become sultry by afternoon with little air across the deck or through the cockpit. Hard to imagine that this vast desert of calm will soon see a torrent of wind that will build sharp seas to 5 meters before tearing their tops off in a horizontal steam of spray and foam. No place for little boats.

A brown boobie has been perched on our bow pulpit all morning resting, no doubt, from a long night following a hard day of fishing. He can sit on the water, of course, but perhaps it's a treat to keep his bum dry for a bit while out on excursion. Gulf of Tehuantepec is 220 NM across. Hope sea birds have a prescience of the looming, intermittent gales in time to safely make for shore and that there are not, after an event, floating carcasses strewn downwind the effected hundreds of miles.

Although mating season is over, Olive Ridley turtles remain prevalent, heading north for the summer. Those who maintain Canadian citizenship are probably returning for healthcare, free. As they seldom pay taxes, this would actually be true for them. "Take two jellyfish and call me in six weeks."

Jack