04/21/2007, 2165 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 02deg 21'S 132deg 19'W
Here's the routine: motor along at 5 knots because there is no wind; 8 knots from the east so put up the light air sails; rain squall ahead so take down the light air sails and put up the jib; rain squall passes bringing good wind for half an hour; back to 8 knots from the east so put up the light air sails; no wind so take sails down and run motor. Repeat the above until tired and ready for a nap.
As I write this the boat is only doing 1 knot. That is bad enough but the 1 knot is in the wrong direction! My diesel supply is dwindling so I am now using the motor sparingly. I should be thankful. There is a boat several hundred miles behind me that has had an engine failure and has been drifting around for 7 days. They have plenty of food and water but are getting frustrated. The weather guru says this should all change by Monday.
My distance for today is 113 miles for an average speed of 4.7 kts. I'll be lucky if I make 80 miles tomorrow. All else is well. I am working my way through the 14000 songs on my Ipod. Maybe I will make some popcorn and watch a video.
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Comments [1]
04/20/2007, 2052 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 00deg 39'S 131deg 38'W
Shortly after midnight this morning I crossed the equator for the first time by boat and was elevated from the lowly status of "pollywog" to that of "shellback" but not without some small ceremony and tribute to King Neptune. Custom has it that one must offer him a wee dram of the most expensive libation onboard. Some contend that it can be filtered through the kidneys but I took no chances and threw my offering of Grand Marnier into the deep blue. Then I opened a bottle of cheap Mexican champagne and toasted Neptune and my good fortune.
The wind has been on and off. Yesterday I could only manage 5 hours under sail. Today I am hoping to better that and am off to a good start. My noon-to-noon distance for today is 116 mi. for an average speed of 4.8 kts. At present the wind is fair and the sea is calm making for very comfortable sailing. All else onboard is well.
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04/19/2007, 1936 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 020eg 56'N 130deg 37'W
Early this morning I found some wind, not much but enough to move the boat. After 2.8 days of almost non-stop motoring, 6 kts of wind from the east was most welcome although boat speed is less than 4 kts. I hope it keeps up. Fuel consumption has been less than expected because of low operating speed and a very favorable "South Equatorial Current" pushing west. If necessary, I could motor for another 2 days.
Last evening on the radio I spoke to a man from Pitcairn Island, the famous settlement of the Bounty mutineers. I declined to discuss his lineage. He told me that I was exactly due north of him and that he could see my lights. I grabbed my binocs and sure enough there it was, 1500 miles due south, a high craggy rock, just like I remember reading about when I was 12.
My daily distance is 111 mi. for and average speed of 4.6 kts. All is well onboard and I hope to "cross the line" (equator) before sunrise tomorrow.
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04/18/2007, 1825 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 02deg 31'N 129deg 46'W
There is not much wind, maybe 5 kts or 10 kts after a squall passes. Even then it lasts less than an hour. I have been motoring all but 3 of the past 24 hrs. There is enough diesel for another 46 hrs or about 200 mi. I hope that gets me out of the doldrums. If not, Sand Dollar will bob like a cork until the wind comes.
Under the best of circumstances I could be in Hiva Oa, Marquesas by April 26. More likely it will be the 28th. What's the hurry?
My noon-to-noon distance for today is 109 miles for an average speed of 4.5 kts. The water temperature is 83 while the cabin air is 84. The relative humidity is 80%. The boat motion is very comfortable and I am able to work on some maintenance projects.
I ate my last apple - should have brought more (Granny Smith). There are plenty of limes and lots of cabbage so I am not worried about scurvy.
All else onboard is well.
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04/17/2007, 1717 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 04deg 15'N 129deg 24'W
Progress has slowed considerably. I am now motoring when the wind drops below 7 knots. Every few hours there is a rain squall which washes the boat and gives me a shower. The water temperature is 83 and the air in the cabin is 86. The relative humidity is 79% - very muggy! My noon-to-noon distance for today is 109 mi. at an average speed of 4.5 kts. There is not much to see here in the doldrums, no birds, and no flying fish. I'll be glad when I get through this.
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04/16/2007, 1608 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 05°52'N 128°45'W
The doldrums is an area around the equator characterized by calms, thunderstorms, and variable winds. It is a region to be avoided or transited quickly. This time of year the doldrums lies north of the equator and may be anywhere from 150-600 miles wide. On the north edge of the doldrums is a zone of very unsettled conditions with squalls, torrential rain and thunder. This is where Sand Dollar finds herself today.
The normal strategy for transiting the doldrums consists of arriving at about 5°north 130°west and then heading due south to get through it quickly as possible. Once the southeast trade winds are found a direct course for the Marquesas may be made.
My daily mileage has decreased because of the changing conditions. My distance for today is 140 mi for an average speed of 5.8 kts. The next few days are hard to predict but will be interesting. I anticipate running the engine for a few days.
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