The last two days have been windless. Every once in a while I get teased into raising the genoa, but it never lasts, and is never enough to turn off the motor.
We saw a turtle yesterday. He was getting rolled in the bow wave. I'm sure he was thinking "WTF, a whole Pacific Ocean, and you have to go blasting by me at 5 knots...?"
During the night watch, I saw the tip of the crescent moon rise, and for a moment it looked like a sail made of moonlight.
In the morning Dave woke me up to look at Dolphins playing with the boat. He was very excited.
After the dolphins left, we found another fishing float (but still not glass).
This evening at 6:30 PM we got enough wind to sail without the motor for about two hours. It was so peaceful and quite.
I tried adding fuel, but it made a mess as there was an air bubble or something. I am not sure where we stand with the fuel as I was only able to add about 7 gallons today. We still have 45 gallons in jerry cans. The wind seems to be picking up after dinner now, so hopefully I won't have to worry about the fuel situation.
The big decision for tonight is whether to leave the genoa up, or take it down. We will decide as it gets darker.
Current position is:
37.10 x 144.04
Baro: 1026
Wind: 6 knots from 075
See you all soon.
A chronicle of Spellbound's epic voyage: San Francisco to Kaneohe. Including updates and running commentary from shore side during the 2010 Pacific Cup.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
August 4, 2010 The Moon and Clouds
last night was the 3rd night in a row that we were able to see an incredible show of the stars.
The number of stars, and the clarity of the Milky way is fantastic. However the night does not stay this way all night. The clouds from squalls, and the Moon conspire to play games.
The clouds cover the moon, and under the darkness, the waves will then attack and board the boat to wreak whatever havoc they can. They will splash the helmsman, or sometimes send a frontal attack of a whole wave up over bow to come washing down the deck and into the cockpit. And for the comprehensive maneuvers, they will add in some special OPS flying fish, or squid.
Now this all sounds like the moon is the good guys and the clouds are the bad guys, but I am not so sure of the character of the moon. Cause, when the moon does come out and show his face, about half of the stars run and hide. So there must be something not so nice about the moon...
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
This morning we finally reached the high, or as much of it as we wanted. The whole demeanor of the boat is different now. There are no waves. The wind is light, and it hasn't rained since last night. We pulled all the cushions out to the cabin top to give them a chance to dry out. Clothes were hung out all over the boat. We turned on the motor for a couple hours, but later found that we could still sail. We turned on the stove for the first time since we left Hawaii. Dave made pasta with some marinara sauce we found, and added a can of salmon. Oh yeah, while we were motoring we setup the autopilot. That freed up a lot of time as someone did not have to be at the tiller at all times. Dave came down to listen to the daily radio check in, and I pointed out approximate locations of the boats as they reported location and wind speed.
After dinner, we tacked onto port tack and are headed for SF (well maybe a little low, but I expect to get lifted as we head East.
FISHING NET FLOATS:
I have been looking for the glass balls that are used to float fishing nets. I saw a spherical object floating in the distance and redirected to intercept. It took several times to be able to get close enough to pick it from the water. There was a whole colony of crabs and clams living on it. Unfortunately after closer inspection, it was not made of glass, so we turned it free. After a few hours of reflection, I was regretting not picking it up. It may have been the only souvenir I get form the trip this direction. So, behold, another one. I was able to divert to this one and get it on the first try. Dave took it fomr me and I tied a line to it, and it is not trailing behind the boat. I imagine the residents are having meetings to determine what to do with the new circumstances.
Hopefully the wind will hold and we will be able to sail all night.
The number of stars, and the clarity of the Milky way is fantastic. However the night does not stay this way all night. The clouds from squalls, and the Moon conspire to play games.
The clouds cover the moon, and under the darkness, the waves will then attack and board the boat to wreak whatever havoc they can. They will splash the helmsman, or sometimes send a frontal attack of a whole wave up over bow to come washing down the deck and into the cockpit. And for the comprehensive maneuvers, they will add in some special OPS flying fish, or squid.
Now this all sounds like the moon is the good guys and the clouds are the bad guys, but I am not so sure of the character of the moon. Cause, when the moon does come out and show his face, about half of the stars run and hide. So there must be something not so nice about the moon...
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
This morning we finally reached the high, or as much of it as we wanted. The whole demeanor of the boat is different now. There are no waves. The wind is light, and it hasn't rained since last night. We pulled all the cushions out to the cabin top to give them a chance to dry out. Clothes were hung out all over the boat. We turned on the motor for a couple hours, but later found that we could still sail. We turned on the stove for the first time since we left Hawaii. Dave made pasta with some marinara sauce we found, and added a can of salmon. Oh yeah, while we were motoring we setup the autopilot. That freed up a lot of time as someone did not have to be at the tiller at all times. Dave came down to listen to the daily radio check in, and I pointed out approximate locations of the boats as they reported location and wind speed.
After dinner, we tacked onto port tack and are headed for SF (well maybe a little low, but I expect to get lifted as we head East.
FISHING NET FLOATS:
I have been looking for the glass balls that are used to float fishing nets. I saw a spherical object floating in the distance and redirected to intercept. It took several times to be able to get close enough to pick it from the water. There was a whole colony of crabs and clams living on it. Unfortunately after closer inspection, it was not made of glass, so we turned it free. After a few hours of reflection, I was regretting not picking it up. It may have been the only souvenir I get form the trip this direction. So, behold, another one. I was able to divert to this one and get it on the first try. Dave took it fomr me and I tied a line to it, and it is not trailing behind the boat. I imagine the residents are having meetings to determine what to do with the new circumstances.
Hopefully the wind will hold and we will be able to sail all night.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
August 3, 2010
Interesting...
We are at 34 x151
Press at 1030
We can't make any easterly progress.
I will play around with a tack, and different sail combinations.
We are at 34 x151
Press at 1030
We can't make any easterly progress.
I will play around with a tack, and different sail combinations.
August 2, 2010 Position reports
Hi Jens,
Thanks for the updates, and position reports. I do participate in the net, but it is hard to hear all positions well. I thought Valis was North and east of us, but he is sacrificing East for North. So, i not so much slower than them as I had feared.
We may shake the reef out of the main today, but overall this sail plan has been working pretty well.
Thanks for the updates, and position reports. I do participate in the net, but it is hard to hear all positions well. I thought Valis was North and east of us, but he is sacrificing East for North. So, i not so much slower than them as I had feared.
We may shake the reef out of the main today, but overall this sail plan has been working pretty well.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
August 1, 2010 Keepin' on!
We continue to make progress. We passed 1600 miles to go earlier today. 50 nmore miles and we will have 1500 to go. Wind is mostly steady with changes as squalls roll through.
I think I fixed the leak. The hose was leaking. I cut an inch off one line, and replaced a 5 inch piece with some I just happened to have hanging around. The smell in the boat is not so bad now.
Water continues to leak in as waves wash over the cabin top. The forward hatch still leaks after the duct tape, and the main hatch leaks water right on to the port bench.
What are some deep discussions I can have with myself?
Dave would like to get an email from his mom, if she is watching this.
I think I fixed the leak. The hose was leaking. I cut an inch off one line, and replaced a 5 inch piece with some I just happened to have hanging around. The smell in the boat is not so bad now.
Water continues to leak in as waves wash over the cabin top. The forward hatch still leaks after the duct tape, and the main hatch leaks water right on to the port bench.
What are some deep discussions I can have with myself?
Dave would like to get an email from his mom, if she is watching this.
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