Monday 7 May 2019 At last, beautiful skies, beautiful seas, and most importantly gentler swells - the gorgeous day we have all been hoping for. Spirits are high and a sense of anticipation fills the air as we approach Kiritimati (Christmas Island), now less than 200 miles away. Shy has joined the ranks of the living today and his animated smile and offer to make omelets is met with a round of applause. Lounging on the front deck is finally possible without risk of more rogue waves. Mimi works her magic at lunchtime with a delicious fried rice dish with ginger and yummier mahi-mahi before the afternoon skies and radar screen warn of a very large approaching squall line several miles ahead. We batten down the hatches, reef the sails and prepare for heavy rains as we watch a very long and wide band of dark rain clouds approach.

After a brief spike in winds to 30 knots, the deluge comes, providing a thorough rinse for the boat. Then, the winds die completely, and the seas become flat, appearing like sheets of silver-gray silk fabric gently undulating from below, punctuated by large staccato silver raindrops. We stare in wonder as this magical phenomenon continues for a period of time before finally moving on to the northwest. The sun reappears low in the west, backlighting puffy white clouds with a golden halo, as strange horizonal striations streak through. Without question, nature�'s majesty at its finest. We have our first calm sit-down dinner together on the back deck, with spaghetti Bolognese, Chardonnay, and the last of our fresh lettuce salad as a dramatic sunset unfolds�.... ahhhh. It doesn�'t get better than this.