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Sailing4Him.org

Vessel Name: Sweet Dreams
Vessel Make/Model: Irwin 54
Hailing Port: Hayden Bay, Portland, Oregon, USA
Crew: Jim, Gina Colton, & Niki
About: We are a family on a mission. Working with Wycliffe Bible Translators, we will sail across the Pacific Ocean to Papua New Guinea where we will serve as Boating Operations Managers. Please join us as God unfolds this wonderful adventure before us!
Extra:
Did you know that nearly one-third of the existing languages do not have a single verse of Scripture? That’s over 200 million people with NO opportunity to see scripture in their own heart language. In 1999, Wycliffe committed to the mission of seeing a Bible translation program started in [...]
Home Page: http://sailing4him.org
15 November 2015
18 August 2015 | 8 05.87'S:157 00.63'E, Near GIzo
16 August 2015 | 8 05.87'S:157 00.63'E, Near GIzo
10 August 2015 | 8 05.87'S:157 00.63'E, Kolombangara Island
02 August 2015 | Gizo, Solomon Islands
13 July 2015 | 8 05.87'S:157 00.63'E, Kolombangara Island
01 July 2015 | 9 05.67'S:160 08.65'E, Tulaghi Harbour
25 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
25 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
23 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
21 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
21 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
21 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
20 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
20 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
20 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
19 June 2015 | 8 54.173'S:161 04.421'E, Malaita Island
14 June 2015 | 09 01.05'S:160 07.52'E, Roderick Bay, Nggela Islands
12 June 2015 | 09 24.11'S:160 00.62'E, Honiara
02 June 2015 | 07 43.75'S:160 03.68'E, Heading to Honiara
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15 November 2015

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18 August 2015 | 8 05.87'S:157 00.63'E, Near GIzo

A Fish Story_Part 2

Now that you are hooked on this story, you need to know there is more. But first the answer to the popular question: Did you get the lure back?

16 August 2015 | 8 05.87'S:157 00.63'E, Near GIzo

A Fish Story

A huge rift in the family occurred last week. In other words it was real dissention.

Day 18 �- preparing for arrival

03 July 2014 | 21 08'N:150 39'W, 2486 nm offshore and almost to Hawaii
Gina
As we get within 330 nautical miles of land, we are starting to take steps for arrival consisting of making calls to the Harbor Master, Kona Marina, Customs office, and Agricultural office. As a US documented vessel coming into a US port it is usually no big deal, but it is more complicated since we are inbound from Mexico. There will be a fairly formal check-in process requiring us to provide documentation about our vessel, last port of call (San Carlos, Mexico), along with the people and supplies (stores) on board. Likely Customs will want to do a physical inspection to check for forbidden fruits, vegetables, and meats. No problem there because everything has been eaten by our hungry (teenage and pre-teen) crew. Additionally, the US Coast Guard might want to come aboard for a vessel inspection.

The kids are scanning the horizon for the first view of land, each wanting to be the first to shout �'Land-Ho!�' Dog-opoly has been a favorite pastime game interspersed with watching old episodes of the Tv-series Psych and school work. The adults are enjoying catching up on some reading. Jim has the C.S. Forester Hornblower series and is on (book 4). Gina is reading a novel called �'The Choice�' and Jen is reading Lee Strobel�'s �'The Case for Faith.�' Mistakenly, we had the impression we would have tons of free time to read during the 20-21 day crossing, but this just has not been the case. The �"dog watches�" and rougher than expected seas have taken their toll.

Many of you are asking how long we plan to stay in Hawaii. At this point, we do not know. There is one major repair to our main sail track which must be fixed. The Kona port has good marine service facilities. This problem may need some professional help. The upper track which the mainsail runs up has come loose, shaking out 12-15 track screws. On about our 9th day out, we were having trouble raising and lowering our main sail. The cars were getting stuck in the track up high. This is not good because we need to be able to get the main down quickly. The first few screws popped out of the sail track and sprinkled the deck. After an inspection with binoculars, Jim discovered that the sail track was coming away from the mast, caused by the loosening screws. Apparently the heat in Mexico may have melted away the lock tight on the screw threads. From that point on using the mainsail was not an option. We instead have rigged our beautifully colorful (fluorescent orang e) storm tri-sail. It goes up a separate track on the mast and has worked well, as intended, to stabilize the boat while running downwind under head sails. Once at port, Jim and Colton will see if they can solve the problem. It may be tough to fix with mast in its vertical position. We do NOT want to remove the mast! Our jib sail also is in need of a few repairs due to having flown continually now for over 2000 miles. Then there is the regular housekeeping and maintenance list-of-things-to-do such as cleaning all floors and linens, changing the oil in the main engine, etc. Before we tackle the list of things to do, Captain Jim has promised us some REST, and we plan to hold him to this promise! 2 days shore leave? I think SO!

Today�'s winds have been fairly consistent along with some very large swells coming up on our aft. We find ourselves looking UP at them which makes Gina very nervous. Some pass under the boat without you even knowing they were there while others jostle us from side to side. It�'s all a timing thing. We have gotten better at stowing all loose items, having fewer spills and flying objects.

With the cloud bank on the western horizon there is no �"Land-Ho�" call. Reasonably, the tall mountains on Hawaii are likely visible from our current range. The past days of light rain squalls have subsided to partly cloudy skies. Wind remains from the ENE and have a variable component from 10-18 knots, making for hourly adjustments to sail trim. We are still experiencing confused seas with swell coming from the NE, E and SE. This also brings a challenge to keeping the sails full and bye.

As we approach the main Island Hawaii we are heading in at 254 degrees magnetic, pointing toward the north end - then through the channel with Maui on the other side. Phone calls today to the Kona port authority confirmed that prevailing winds from the NE have been stronger than usual making for some rough water through the channel. We may slow it down to traverse that point into the channel in the wee hours of Sunday morning. If we do not slow down a bit our timing could put us there late Saturday afternoon, during the height of winds�....not good.
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