Pacific Spirit: SailBlogs

From sail to sale in Oz

ulrika — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:51:48 -0600

Rather than crocs, snakes and spiders, oz has so far been an endless parade of squawking rainbow coloured lorikeets, ibises in formation, snake necked diving cormorants, graceful stilting egrets, sneaky dusky herons, round faced swallows, turquoise shimmering kingfishers, yellow masked lapwings and pelicans like flying buses. (Continued...)

Wild Island in the Coral Sea

ulrika — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:07:00 -0500

After a beautifully calm cruise down from Papua New Guinea the wind died off completely about 20nm north of the Willis Islands around 200nm from the mainland. With no wind we weren't going anywhere so we decided to drop anchor just behind the northern most cay after motoring the last few miles. By the time we arrived a 5kt headwind was blowing from the southwest but the forecast predicted this would swing East so staying the night would be a good plan. What luxury! Not only great weather so far but a full nights sleep after 3 days of 4hr shifts on watch. (Continued...)

lullaby in birdland

ulrika — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:25:00 -0500

Black swivelling silhouettes against a cloudless yellow-blue sky where the sun has just melted into the sea; shearwaters, sooty terns and boobies swoop with effortless precision around our mast looking for a perch. A runny mound of guano on the solar panel left behind by last night's guests remind me of the less romantic aspects of these graceful air- acrobats, but I still cant stop myself from loving the company. (Continued...)