So last night our Navigator said we needed to gybe (turn) away from Hawaii and head South, not West. This was met with a chorus of "what have you been smoking?" The issue was that we were running into a re-forming high pressure zone which has less wind. So we turned, knowing that we would be losing ground to the fleet but hoping to find more wind and gain on the fleet in the long-run. This morning's position report confirmed that we had in fact, "taken one for the team" as we are now second in class.

Last night we were in the convergence of a high pressure and low pressure zone which has the effect of making the water go vertical as two opposing currents meet each other. It was an uncomfortable night as we sailed in an ocean that resembled a washing machine on the rinse cycle. Not great for sleeping.

My morning watch starts at 5:00 and this morning this happy time was greeted by a thunderstorm courtesy of Cosme. Later on as I was driving we were met by a school of flying fish who were presumably fleeing some other fish with bigger teeth. Most of the fish went in front or behind us but a few went ping, ping, ping into the side of the boat. You can't help but wonder if flying fish Fred said to flying fish Phil "whoooaa dude, who put up the freaking wall?"

Currently we are moving VERY nicely in fresh breeze, crossing our fingers that we are in more wind than our fleet and that our strategy will work. In the meantime, the monster boats are chasing us as we flee like flying fish, hoping that as they pass they throw us some chocolate bars.

Jim

Comments [0]

Good Morning!

If you have been watching the weather you know hurricane Cosme is headed to Hawaii. This morning Cosme has been downgraded to a tropical storm. This came from the low pressure area we have been watching.

We are sailing in 15 - 17 knots of wind and having a great time. The sky is cloudy with occasional light showers. We are chasing Cosme which is 600 miles away with the hope of getting more breeze...but we want to be careful what we wish for. Rest assured that while we are racing, and wind is good, we will be reasonably prudent about chasing a tropical storm!

Aloha!
Jim

Comments [0]

Good Morning!

We had another night of driving into a black hole. Great crew work, bad jokes and a stellar tactical call (let's gybe and I mean NOW) have catapulted is into FIRST PLACE! Right now, the first three boats in the fleet standings are from Northern California; us, and our friends on Chipango - Santa Cruz, and Kokopelli from San Francisco. We would love to see a Nor Cal sweep, but the big fast boats have just recently left Long Beach and will be breathing down our necks any day now.

It's still a LONG way to the beach. We have to start playing some defense now and protect our lead. This could get very interesting due to the uncertainty of what Cosme will do to the wind patterns near Hawaii.

Will there be trades? Will the wind build? Will there be wind or just a huge vacuum?

Lots of wild cards ahead which will provide challenging tactical decisions.

Life on board is pretty simple. You eat, sleep, hydrate, pull on a rope or drive the bus. The day is divided into these activities. Along with watching for sea life and listening to bad jokes. Today we will be half way to Hawaii and the worst news is that we are out of chocolate. If somebody would please arrange for an air drop I'm craving an Almond Joy and some M & M's...and we now have zero. Apparently Ty's view of "I have way too much candy for these guys" and what we are capable of eating are ocean's apart.

Aloha!
Jim

Comments [7]