After a consistent run thru the N Hemisphere, we found the light variable southern tradewinds. The general recommendation was to get most of your westing North of the equator, as the winds are much lighter down here. I am sitting in the cockpit, 9:00 at night, all sails furled, and coasting at one knot with the current. At this rate we should be there in another 22 days. Luckily winds come and go, and I'm sure sometime through the night the winds will return, sails will be unfurled, and we will be underway again. The days have been quite hot, so the breeze through the cabin and cockpit is minimal. We rigged up some sun shades around the bimini, I call it the "little cabana". Still pretty hot out here.

Yesterday, we pulled sail, and took a swim w/ the mermaids, yea we are already seeing things. It is really quite a feeling to dive in the ocean a 1000 miles from anywhere. Nobody swam to far away form Sherpa, though we trailed a rope just in case a puff came up. (someone always stayed aboard) Pete got two 8's and a 9 to lead the diving competition off the dinghy on the foredeck. I thought the hull would have some growth on it, as we were heeled over on one side most of the way, but not too many barnacles.

We are expecting to make landfall probably this weekend at the earliest, but looking closer to monday if we keep experiencing these flukey winds. Most of the other boats still out here on there way are coming form the Galapagos Islands, and listening to the evening net, they are experiencing much of the same winds and weather. There are a couple of boats behind us. I think there were probably about 100-150 boats making the passage this year form points along the Americas, not sure how many were coming the thru Canal from Europe.

John