A tough 24 hours for the two of us. The forward head was still not functioning(fixed it just a few minutes ago-I hope), the Genoa bearing is still out(to rough to go up the mast) and the engine doesn't want to start when the key is turned. As you can see, it's not all sweet smelling and rosey out here. From what we can figure out, the start batteries(2) are both just about shot and should have been replaced when we were land based. Unfortunately, they never passed through my radar as they always worked fine. At close to 7 years old, they should have been replaced a good year ago. I took off all the wires to the starter as well as the solenoid and got them all nice and cleaned up and shiny. Once bolted back on, I checked the start batteries and they showed 12.5 volts but still didn't have the umpf to do the job. After a crank or two, they only showed 12.1 volts. No where near enough to do what they are made to do--start the engine. We were both feeling quite low at the time after a rotten night aboard with the wind for all intense and purposes dying off to just about nothing while the waters swell action made poor Zephyr tumble through the night as did we who live aboard. By this morning, both of us were grumpy to the MAX. One saving grace is that we have out little Honda generator to supply us all the power we need as well as our DuoGen(still doing a great job). When we need the engine, I can just fire up the generator and let it charge up the batteries and then the engine "should" start. Now it's nice to have an engine but it's not a life threatening curse is it doesn't work. We need our to get through the doldrums of the ITCZ(Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). This is an area about 5 degrees North of the Equator to about 4 degrees South of it. It can be either rough or flat calm. Our weather router told us yesterday not to hurry down there as it's currently in a state of unrest and not a pleasant place to be right now. With luck, we'll have a better time when we get there. The only other time we will need the engine is when we need to enter the harbor at the end of the voyage(where I can get new batteries). The rest of the time, we will just continue sailing as best we can. We still need a few hours of calm seas so I can get up the mast and fix the genoa roller furling that broke on day 3.

I fixed the forward head this afternoon by installing another "joker" valve. This is a small rubber device that opens only one way--to get what is in the bowl out and not let it come back. Ours let it come back(not a good thing--smells).

Each day, we check and recheck all the systems to make sure all is doing as it should. From the rigging to the screws that hold things together, it all needs to be check and checked regularly. The screws that hold the ends of our mainsail reefing system decided to come loose after 2.5 years of use. One popped right out of the boom and landed on deck. One of the screws that holds the binnacle(holds the wheel, compass, autopilot and chart plotter in the cockpit) was about half way out. It's not like a house out here. Everything is in a constant state of flux as we move through the water. You can hear the creaking and groaning as we slide through the water. It's anything but quiet out here. I got about 4 hours of sleep in the last 24 due to the noise and anxiety of things happening on board and Tracy didn't get that much(light sleeper).

The last 24 hours, we've made 120 miles(I'll take that after last night) and have now gone 766 miles of the 3,000 mile trip. We're at Latitude 15 36.524N 116 27.668W on a course of about 230degrees True(no magnetic compass adjustment allowed) with high fluffy clouds with winds of about 12 knots out of the Northwest and sea swells of 5 to 7 feet.

My cuts and bruises are healing just fine but I still keep bandaids on them to make sure they stay nice and clean. Oh--for dinner last night, Tracy made sweet and sour shrimp. Sure was good and lots of leftovers for another night(yeah). Tracy's two cents:

Hi all, last night was the pits! I absolutely hate having the sails slat back and forth, bang, bang, bang and on and on. I tried different tacks, different sail shapes. Nothing worked, there just wasn't enough wind to override the swell. Slop, slop, all night long, when I finally did come down for a rest, the "car" that the jib sheet runs through kept banging right over my head. All in all it makes me a cranky broad.

For a time we discussed turning back and going to Cabo San Lucas to get new batteries, fix the roller furling and do the head, then common sense or lack there of took over and we got things into perspective. There really is only two places that an engine would be nice, but still not critical. Crossing the ITCZ, just to get through it faster, and anchoring with two anchors. Atuona, Hiva Oa requires two anchors front and back because of the swell in the harbor and how many boats are occupying the space. I think we'll look at our charts and Goggle Earth cache pictures and see if Nuka Hiva would be easier to get into and anchor. I know fewer are arriving at Nuka Hiva, the Northern most check in island in the Marquesas. That may be a better choice.

Blue is begging for attention from Bill and is currently getting needed scratches and pets.

Tomorrow will be a better day, won't it???!