04/25/2007, 2558 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 07deg 38'S 136deg 18'W
Just when I was about to open a package of Trader Joe's green curry chicken, BINGO, I landed a nice tuna just in time for dinner. He was caught on a reel mounted to the stern rail; no rod but very heavy line (100 lb test). The reel provides adjustable drag but essentially I just winch the fish in. Now I will have fish for the next several days. Unfortunately, that means I will have stop fishing until I get closer to the Marquesas where I will be able to share any catch and make new friends.
Yesterday's progress was slow because of fickle winds and many rain squalls. One minute the wind would be 5 kts and the next it would be 25. There were a lot of sail changes but no motoring. My noon-to-noon distance was 100 miles for an average speed of 4.2 kts. This morning the wind has been blowing consistently at 15-20 kts and I am making 6.5 kts on a beam reach. If this continues there is no doubt that I will make landfall on Friday. Otherwise it will be Saturday.
All else is well onboard.
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Comments [2]
04/24/2007, 2458 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 06deg 19'S 135deg 13'W
Yesterday was my slowest day so far. My noon-to-noon distance was only 85 miles for an average speed of 3.5 kts. The southeast trades have been very fickle so far, bringing calms and more squalls. I have decided to conserve diesel and use it for charging the batteries, if necessary, and maintaining a reserve for maneuvering near the coastline. Seven gallons, or about 12 hours running time, remains. I am in good shape and could even motor in a dead calm for 8 hours if I had to. As long as there is some wind, though, I prefer to sail. Besides, what's the hurry? I am now 330 miles from landfall so if I can manage to average 110 miles/day I will be there on Friday the 27th. in the morning. Even if I screamed along at 6 kts. I still would not make it in less than 3 days because I want to arrive in daylight.
This morning I saw a dolphin near the boat. That is the first sea life I have seen, aside from the odd flying fish and storm-petrel, for a week. Despite dragging 3 lures of various sizes and colors I am still eating chicken. The water temperature is 82 while the cabin is 85, not much change. Fortunately, it cools off at night and I sleep in the cockpit quite comfortably.
All else is well onboard.
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04/23/2007, 2373 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 05deg 14'S 134deg 24'W
I finally got out of those nasty squalls and found the southeast trades. They are not as strong as the northeast trades but I am not complaining, the boat is moving along quite nicely at 5.2 knots and the swell is comfortable. Last night the wind went flat so I had to motor for 12 hours. Let's hope it keeps blowing all the way to the Marquesas, another 390 miles.
Landfall is likely on Friday April 27 in the morning, either at Hiva Oa or Fatu Hiva. I will decide as I get closer. The fishing has been lousy and I do not see many birds. I think it will improve as I get closer to shallow water. All else onboard is well. The frozen food is gone so now I am eating canned stuff. Could use a nice tuna about now. I think I'll put out another line.
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04/22/2007, 2263 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas at 03deg 43'S 133deg 15'W
The good news is that I finally got the wind I was waiting for, and lots of it. The bad news is that it is coming in small parcels accompanied by torrential, horizontal rain, some lightening and confused seas. I have been passing through these squalls for the past 18 hours and had little sleep last night but feeling well today. Sand Dollar, of course, is no worse for wear and keeps plunging on. After I pass through the present system, the radar shows no squalls for at least the next 24 miles. I could use the break.
The lightening is what concerns me the most. I put one of the GPS units in the oven for electrical protection in case the boat gets zapped. If that fails and I lose all electronics, I will be doing a crash course in sextant navigation so that I can shoot the sun and stars just like in the old days.
My noon-to-noon distance for today is an unimpressive 98 miles for an average speed of 4.1 kts. There is enough fuel for another 12 hours of motoring and that's all. The Marquesas lie about 500 miles to the southwest and I am looking at arriving in the next 5 days, around the 27th. All else onboard is well.
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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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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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