NEARLY THERE!

Last time I told you a little bit about the Tehuantepec. Today through the Amigo Net, and thanks to the famous Don, weather guru, I have some good news about the next 48 hours.

Today, Saturday, the Tehuantepec will be quiet, less than 20 knots, and tomorrow, Sunday, it will be calm. Sunday night it starts to build again, and by Monday and Tuesday it is blowing a small gale - 25 - 35 knots. After that who cares. Today and tomorrow, 36 hours, will be enough to get us well beyond the reach of that gale.

Even now we are clear. - 3 hours ago - at 1500 UTC (used to be called Greenwich Mean time) we were at 14 deg 00' North, 97 deg 34' West. Plotting it on the chart I see we are out of the path of these fierce winds already, and by nightfall Sunday we will be around 40 miles off the coast and 80 or so miles from Acapulco, should get there Monday morning after 16 days at sea. It's all about numbers.

Even if the T'peccer (local nickname) comes early it will only help us on our way. I have the storm staysail ready rigged, and the wind would be on the beam. You can't afford to be cocky, but that's my estimate..36 hours motoring is about 36 gallons. We have around 80 gallons of fuel. I hope we can sail some of it though. We've been motoring for 77 hours straight, since Wednesday midday. makes it hot down below.

Live today entirely without fear. Just because you want to.

Joe