Shearwater

After a SLOW day of motoring on fumes - literally - they pulled in at 11:30 pm last night. No wind yesterday - when we were waiting at the dock, the reflection on the water from everything was perfect - no wind movement at all. So, they had 3.75 gallons when they started motoring at San Nicolas Island, and motored 24 hours until they arrived.
Everyone was happy, and tired, and ready for a shower. They requested Mexican food and Coronas - so that's what we had waiting for them. Also, Stephen brought fresh fruit - all the things they missed (food wise).
This is the last blog. Thank you for reading it, and thank you for your comments and feedback, and for caring and being a part of it.
Aloha, from Shearwater.

They are sailing with beautiful following winds, gliding along at 5-6kts with a double wing-on-wing sail configuation - just loving life. They passed San Nicolas Island and are heading toward San Clemente. Everyone is anticipating seeing their loved ones, taking showers, having a cold beer and some Mexican food....

Winds are gusting up to 30 kts., and the seas are 10' on the beam, rolling them. So, they are heading too far south to avoid being rolled. Sigh.
They are so close, but still having such a tough time getting home.

The picture is of an about 8' swell following the boat on the way over - pictures never do it justice.

Another 3 degrees today - they'll probably slow a tad while moving through the High pressure ridge, but then will pick up the north winds on the other side. The southwest winds have really helped them move along nicely. They saw dolphins today - the first marine mammals on the trip.

The picture is of these 4 darling monkeys we saw in the trees on a hike we took with Patrice.

They are doing GREAT (knock on wood!). Three degrees since yesterday. Spirits are up, and the winds are seemingly cooperating. At this rate, maybe home by the 22nd/23rd...? They've been averaging around 5-7 kts. with southwest winds. The winds should shift to the north in the next dayish...

The picture is of a Hawaiian (really, Brazillian) cardinal - an introduced species that was everywhere in the Hanalei area, but we loved its color.

The winds blew from the southeast today, and they were able to go east for about 2 degrees (that's almost 120 miles) - a great day of progress. While they were talking to me, the moon rose and shone a path straight toward their bow.

The picture is looking along the Na Pali coast from the trail that traverses this part of the island that has no road.