It's been another wet and boisterous day aboard SCOOTS, but we're still making good progress toward New Zealand. I'll bet you never fell out of your kitchen and landed in the chair in your office. LOL, I did. One hand for the boat, Vandy. The sun came out and we had blue sky to accompany the 20 knot winds and 2.5 m seas. Pelagic seabirds - shearwaters and the like - have started to make an appearance. The water is 73 degrees now...way below Vandy-approved. We'll pass the halfway point sometime this morning. We've started wearing long pants and sweatshirts/jackets during our night watches. I'll be digging out the rest of our cold weather clothes soon. Sadly, the conditions are too bumpy and rolly for me even to attempt to make a Thanksgiving dinner. We'll just have to do it later, when things smooth out.

While on watch last night, I compiled a list of Things I'm Thankful for, Right here, Right now... ..hatches that don't leak ..the presence of an experienced sailor, mechanic, electrician, and lover on board with me ..SCOOTS' high freeboard ..lots of dry clothes ..a hard dodger with a dry space underneath ..a dependable autopilot ..pre-prepared meals that can be eaten in bowls ..handholds ..hot coffee in the morning, hot meals in the evening ..the second reef in the mainsail ..furling headsails ..access to weather, email and other sailors via our radios ..a strong, fast, sturdy boat ..a strong body, and a strong stomach ..the sunrise every morning, stars at night ..beautiful, magical bioluminescence ..waves that, while choppy and gnarly, aren't more than 3m high ..the knowledge that I won't be in these conditions for more than a few days ..off-watch sleeping periods ..working bilge pumps ..my PFD and safety harness ..a life that allows me to make a list like this

And of course, I'm thankful for my family and friends. Thanks for sharing Thanksgiving with us today.

This morning SCOOTS is at 25* 20's, 175* 26'e.

Cheers.