We are right smack in the middle of the ITCZ, a.k.a. the Zone, weaving our way between squalls which look like black masses of clouds clinging to the water. There are squalls everywhere, to our left, to our right, and behind us. The trick is to steer the course so there isn't one in front of us. That's easy enough to do in the daytime, but at night we will just have to cross our fingers and keep a double reef in the sails.

Recall, we had to throw out our entire egg supply because the place where they were stored was too hot and humid so they got moldy. I had a dream last night, that I discovered a few dozen eggs in the storage space under our bed. I was thrilled! This is unfortunately impossible since we store tools and materials, not eggs, under our bed, which I realized with deep disappointment as I started to awaken. It was just a dream, alas.

Today we tackled the problem of our forward holding tank which would not empty. This would be the third time I have had to remove that holding tank and clear the blockage. This time we did it a little smarter, by rigging a block suspended over the open sail locker hatch where the tank is located, and using a winch to hoist the (very heavy) half full holding tank onto the deck without spilling its contents on the boat or ourselves. (See the photo that John has posted of this operation)

We managed to get the tank emptied and discovered that the blockage was in the 1-1/2 inch outlet hose. It was blocked with minerals that accumulate due to the chemical interaction of the waste with sea water.

In order to gain access to the holding tank, located in the sail locker at the bow of the boat, it was necessary to completely empty the sail locker of all our other stuff. The sail locker is where we store everything that's bulky. I passed boxes and items aft to John and Pascale who placed the items in our cabin (temporarily). Well guess what I found in one of the boxes I removed from the sail locker....

Two dozen eggs (and not moldy, either)!!!