24 Hours Out From the Galapagos
11 June 2010 | Pacific Ocean
Cornelia
I can remember wondering what this moment would feel like; heading out into the Pacific Ocean with 3100 nautical miles before me. What would I do with my fears and anxieties? How would I handle the vast expanse ahead of me? How would I prepare for this moment? 6pm; 9June10 Course: 225 degrees Speed:3-3.5 knots Well, here I am. No anxiety. No fear. Feeling relaxed. There was no emotional preparation. Only boat prep. And that was minimal because we had just done an overnight sail from San Cristobal Island to Isabella Island here in the Galapagos, two days ago, so Gromit was pretty well still in off shore mode. Our heading is 226 degrees, so south-west, and we have very little wind. Our speed is around 3 knots per hour. This could be partly due to land effect. Once away from Isabela Island, we expect the wind to improve. 1:30am; 10June10 Course: 223 degrees Speed: 5.6 - 6.6 knots Michael and the kids decided to have family movie time this evening and I went to rest (I'm on the early night watch: midnight to 3 or 4). They watched 'Apollo 13' in the cockpit on one of our computers. Zoe didn't stay (Michael said the beginning was slow) and Liam fell asleep. From the concession stand: popcorn and tang. School starts tomorrow after a long holiday. Our goal is to have term 3 completed by the time we arrive in the Marquesas. In the past, I have tried to work with all three kids simultaneously, but that hasn't always worked well. Inevitably, someone would be waiting and getting frustrated. We are going to try a different method to see if things go a little smoother. Liam is our early riser, so I'll work with him first. He tends to need more direction and help with staying focused. Without the distraction of family members around, I'm hoping he can finish his work in a few hours in the morning. Maia is usually second to rise, so I'll work with her next. She is becoming more and more independent, so once I've gotten her going, I'll check in with Zoe and see if and where she needs me. Hopefully this new system will streamline school and reduce stress and frustration. We'll see! It is a great feeling to look out and see Artemo's masthead light nearby. Having them as a buddy boat certainly is reassuring and fun. Yeah for Artemo!!!