Dear Dad and Mom and Sabine, Your daughter (mom) is sailing across the Pacific Ocean! Now I can say I have something remotely in common with Captain Cook and Magellan. We are now 8 days under way and have covered 880 miles. There was no easing into this voyage. As soon as we rounded the point, leaving the elusive security of Tokyo Bay we were greeted with 20 knots of wind from the SW. It was the perfect speed and direction sending us straight for Canada, but it didn’t stay constant. Over the next 5 days it increased steadily as we sailed between two Lows, Tropical Storm Leepi approaching from the SW and a regular cold front coming from the NW. The winds ranged between 20 and 40 knots with rain. Then on Saturday night TS Leepi caught up with us, the wind topping 50 knots an the boat speed hitting 18 knots as we flew over the tops of waves. It was exciting to say the least. Rum Doxy was preforming brilliantly, sailing flat and steady under autopilot, but the crew was getting nervous, so we deployed the Jordan Series Drogue that I had made 3 years ago (thinking we would never use it), and immediately life on board became more comfortable. By morning the wind had completely died and after a good night’s rest, the first since we started, we worked on retrieving the Drogue and that was no easy task requiring all three of us to haul it in. With the high winds and big seas you had to brace yourself at all times, find a spot and hang on. Sleeping was all you wanted to do, going to the bathroom was dreaded and eating was not a priority. Since the winds have calmed, life on board has become a lot more comfortable and productive. This is the first time I’ve been able to sit down at the computer and write without getting queasy. I’ve also been able to start cooking and baking. Yesterday I made whole-wheat bread, banana bread, chocolate cake and muesli. On Sunday we were blessed with a partial day of sunshine, not only did it do wonders for our spirits but we were also able to open the doors and hatches in order to dry and air the boat out. I was feeling like a mushroom after 5 days of dark, dampness. With the constant rain or sea spray we had to keep all the doors and hatches closed and it doesn’t take long for the mold and mildew to set in. Now after two days of motoring we are constantly in search of wind. The GRIBS charts that Mike receives daily over the Sat Phone and the weather charts he downloads over the SSB radio have proved to be extremely accurate and crucial in plotting our course. Just as the GRIBS showed and Mike predicted this morning as I write this letter the wind has picked up and we are able to turn the motor off and sail, it is still light but we expect it to pick up later today. The ocean is like the desert. Its beauty lies not only in its vastness and infinite expanse or its ability for fantastic drama, but also in its subtleties and quiet changes. The angle of the sun or the moon slowly passing across the night sky, the artistic cloud formations, the motion of the ocean, it is truly awesome, and alive! At first glance you see nothing, but if you watch there is life abundant. It starts with the flying fish (and squid), which sometimes end up on deck, or down a hatch landing on Mikes backside while sleeping. Before long the dolphins join you for a ride on the bow and the whale pods are spouting off in the distance. Tuna run alongside the boat just asking to be caught, but the freezer is too full of beef at the moment to drop a line in and I couldn’t bear to waste a precious fish. And we have our constant companions the albatross, and boobies threatening to perch themselves on our brand new anemometer. There is never a dull moment or boredom. I feel so fortunate and blessed to be here and I appreciate very much your support and blessing in my journey. Thank you. I love you, Annette (Mom)