We have been underway for 24 hours. Could not ask for more perfect weather so far. Cloudy with fog leaving Hong Kong yesterday morning rapidly clearing to bright sunny skies. Made our way through fishing boats, long line buoys, and container ships. About 30 miles offshore put in a tuna feather and promptly caught 2 skipjack tuna which we bled, filleted, and iced. Lines were stowed as there was more than enough to eat. Passed a huge school of tuna breaking the surface with birds working everywhere. I was forced to admire them and keep the rod in its holder. Felt like Clarence in a sit-stay with a milk bone on the floor across the kitchen. We did enjoy a plate of tuna nori rolls as the sun set and we glided along. Were we not “dry” underway, we all could have used an ice cold Sapporo beer to wash it down. Passed a city of oil rigs around 12 hours out with gas flares burning and supply ships all around. Surreal! As night fell, multiple squid boats lit up with their sodium vapor lights burning, making them visible over the horizon and destroying our night vision as we passed them, like miniature baseball stadiums lit up for a night game. A crescent moon soon set leaving a pitch black night with stars blazing. Gentle rolling swell, phosphorescence sparking in the wake, the John Deere humming. Pretty nice beginning of the trip!

Anders has joined us for this first leg. He is building a Diesel duck and is busy finding ways to improve his boat with the experience of cruising. We’ve begun our formal watch system with 2 hours on and 8 hours off. Presently perfecting the log entry form to include all pertinent data points for navigation, weather, engine, electrical and watermaker. We do hourly log entries and engine room checks which are lovely as it stays in the 120-130 degree range, but it has finally begun to feel like home as I have a pretty good understanding of how things should look and act. By the way, the autopilot has been working flawlessly.

Today more of the same. Watch schedule is the only regimented part of our day. Lots of time to read, nap, gaze out onto the sea, play cards, watch movies, and talk endlessly about boats, past experiences, and life in general. Will cook the rest of the tuna today giving us reason to go fishing again!