Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Perfect Sailing Conditions
25 August 2007 | En Route from Suwarrow Atoll to Pago Pago, American Samoa
Don
The wind has changed very little in velocity or direction in the past 24 hours and the sailing has been about as good as it gets. There is a six foot swell with a long period so Sand Dollar gently rolls from side to side. There is just enough sail set to move along at 5.5 to 6.0 knots which is plenty of speed to maintain comfort and get to Pago Pago on Monday.
This afternoon I heard an engine noise off in the distance that kept getting louder. I quickly concluded that it was an aircraft. Out of nowhere came a US Coast Guard four-engine jet. He was flying low, banked over my boat and then gained altitude and was gone. I surmise that he was on patrol looking for illegal fishing boats because I am now probably within the zone of American Samoa fishing grounds. Perhaps a satellite image told him where I was and he just wanted to check me out. I will never know.
All else is well onboard but the selection of foodstuffs is now rather limited and boring. The bread I baked last week was finished yesterday so I am down to eating my tuna salad with crackers. The only fresh produce is garlic. I am dreaming of Costco in Pago Pago.