We made it around Butaritari without having to tack! We did have to use the engine to get past the last ten miles. Without it, the wind just wouldn't open up the door for us without the tack.

It has been an interesting day for us. The wind changed direction in our favor, so there we were, flying right along this morning in a beautiful blue world of sky and ocean. It was wonderful....for a while. Then, while I was down below doing checks on out voltage regulator, Elisabeth saw the horizon up ahead go dark. Ugly dark. It turned out to be a massive line squall that rained on us and blew on us at 30 knots for over an hour. Great!

So, we must have looked quite comical wearing next to nothing except underwear (it's hot here), life jackets and tethers while we reefed the sails, and secured the deck. And that brings us to here. It is still grey and rainy, but the wind has laid down. Of course, wouldn't you know it, the wind direction has change back to southeast. The forecasts call for northeast, and we need that to make our easterly component of our intended track. Right now, we are going south, but with no east.

Ever wonder why we laugh when we see the glossy magazines depicting cruising as the lazy life? It's a great life, but lazy? No, there is always fun to be had. But you have to enjoy the chess game aspect of it.

Rod and Elisabeth "Your Rock and Roll Argonauts"