We finally arrived in the eTradesf. The trade winds here blow consistently from east to west. Initially we had a 15knot wind abeam and it built up to around 20knots and stayed consistent for about 12 hours. We then got a current behind us and our speed start to really build. We had been sitting on 6 to 7 knots (SOG) but we started to get 7.5, 7.8 then hitting 8. We then started sitting on 8, then 8.5 ? a new record under sail for Yarramundi - and then a couple of times hit 9. We thought it prudent to reef (reduce the sail size) and reefed to our second reef. The wind picked up shortly afterwards and we started getting the same speeds and one time hit 9.5 knots as we surfed down a wave. I kept checking the tension on the sheets (ropes) and they were fine as I could pull on them easily even with my gammy hand. I did not believe we were putting too much pressure on the rigging or the boat. It was simply the strong current that was helping us achieve those speeds.

I cooked dinner while Andrew was on watch. We still had some fresh Danish ham so I combined it with some onions, garlic, tomatoes and olives for a nice pasta sauce. Due to the conditions I wore my waterproof clothing in case the boiling water went flying. It was really getting rough and I could start to see blue out of the port hole in the galley.

It got dark and as the wind continued to build so did the seas. I decided to change our course a bit more down wind to make for a softer ride. The current had also shifted so that it was coming from the east. As we were planning to pass close to an active volcano island called Farallon de Pajaros the change in course would mean we will pass on itfs lee, the safer side so I think it has been a good choice. Especially given that the wind speed and wave size continued to build. (By the time I got up to posting this blog we had arrived at the volcano).

We are actually guessing on the wind speed. Our electronic wind gauge is out. Tried to fix it for a week and have given up. We were using the windex at the top of the mast to judge direction but as it got hot yesterday we put up the bimney (sun shade) and can no longer see it from the cockpit. Steve ? a solo circumnavigator we met in Chichijima said it would make us better sailors learning to feel the wind. I canft help but just look at which direction our Aussie flag is flying in and listen to the sound of the wind generator to judge the wind speed. I know it cuts out at 40knots and last night it kept cutting out!

At one point in the evening I noticed a large white breaking wave to our starboard side. For some reason it made me look over to the depth gauge and it read 75 metres. Our depth gauge only reads down to 180 and after that it just flashes with some random number on it. So if it is flashing it mean the water depth is over 180 metres. It was not flashing. It then read 68, 55, I looked at the plotter (boat navi) chart and it said we were in water around 1900 metres deep, 52, 48, and jumped out of the cockpit ripped off my beany and listened for the sound of breaking waves on a rock but could not hear any, 43, 38, I point the spot light but nothing, 35, 30, I prepared to turn the boat around, undid the gibe preventer, went to bring in the jib, 27, 24, eto heck with the jib, Ifll punch through with the motorf, I reached down to turn the motor on, 22, 18, 15, still no flashing, why is it getting shallower? There is nothing on the chart, there is supposed to be nothing here, I s tarted the motor to force us around 11, 8, 6.5, 3.2, flashing......false alarm..... bloody hell! Meanwhile, Andrew was down below asleep dreaming of what to do with the 12 passion fruit we were were given by Hirose San.

So what to do with Passion Fruit other than put them on a pavlova? No use writing it on the blog as we wonft be able to read it till we reach Saipan. We were given a box and canft think of what to do except make up a juice or eat them raw.

The sunrise this morning was truly magnificent. It reminded me of watching sunrises on the beaches of east coast of Australia when there is a big swell. The tops of the waves and their white crests were catching the warm orange light. I sat on the side of the boat mesmerized by the scene for over an hour.

The inside of the boat is a mess. We are healed over on our starboard side. For the first 10 days we were on our port side so we got used to living that way. When we entered the eTradesf yesterday everything go flipped around. I canft even work out how to cook as I keep falling into the stove. When the weather settles a little Ifll mount a clean-up campaign. Or maybe I should just leave it looking like the living quarters of a couple of blokes for 2 weeks.

Back up on deck - I love it out here.

David