Day 25 & 26 = 102 nautical miles. We decided to break out of SQUALL ALLEY and motored all night. Our autopilot is not operating properly so that means hand steering the whole way which is a mind numbing experience. Next day started bright and sunny but then we found that we had entered CONVECTION CITY...another spot that has towering clouds that can easily turn mean. During the day we went from no wind to rain squalls and back over and over, getting no where fast. It's too bad that some of this rain can't be sent over to Mexico where they need it so badly. We estimate that here on Buena Vista we have seen 30+ inches. Yes, that's 30 INCHES of rain...maybe more. Today we looked at the grib files and see that there's no wind in our near future either. This sure isn't the trip we both envisioned. We had heard about the beautiful long swells of the blue pacific and this would be one of the great sails of our lives. We've had some great times but after Day 25 comes and goes with no real idea of when we'll make landfall, well it's hard not to get a bit depressed. The whole first fleet has arrived in the Marquesas except for 'Sockdolager' who is about 130 miles ahead of us, 'Artic Tern' who is about 50 miles to the east, and 'Buena Vista'. When we ripped our genoa I was pretty upset, but until now it hasn't really sunk it what a liability that is for us. With all this squally weather, we're hesitant to lift the main completely, for fear we won't be able to get it down fast enough if a squall does hit. Before we were able to make good headway with reefed main and big genoa, which was easy to reef quickly. But now, without it, it's difficult to keep the boat moving through this area. Our repair materials are on their way to Nuka Hiva via 747 as we speak. All we have to do it get there. We're about 400 miles away. Seems easy but could be another week? We both feel like 'laying one on' tonight but probably not the best idea. Speaking of 'bending the elbow'...Don Anderson of 'Summer Passage Radio', the weather guru that Don and I became friends with who helped thousands and thousands of boaters with the weather for the last 20 years....passed away. Thank you Don for all you did for us. We'll miss you..