At 11:00 UTC
20.11.252 N
109.27.773 W
Distance travelled: 109 NM, 98 NM to Honolulu
Distance left to travel: 2788 NM
Wind: 5 knots
Sea State: 1 meter, long period swell
Crew State: getting acclimatized and feeling positive
A word about distance and time.
For the blog, I will be calculating the distance travelled in a 24 hour period from the minute we left Nuevo Vallarta (which was 10:30 AM local time on April 23). However, we will be crossing five time zones to get to Hawaii, so that 24 hour period will be averaged in over the course of the voyage. I will be reporting our progress to the blog after that 24 hour period, so the Lat/Long,distance to travel, wind, sea and crew state listed is for the UTC (Greenwich) time I am actually making my blog entry. (For example, today I am writing at 5:00 local time) Doug reports on the Pacific Seafarer's Net every evening at 3:00 UTC, which is 10pm in this time zone. His lat/long and other statistics will be reported for 3:00 UTC. I know, I know, it sounds incredibly complicated but, hey! That's what it is like for us when we make the passage!
We motor-sailed until late afternoon yesterday when the wind picked up 10 - 15 knots from the W and during the night moved NW. We were able to beat into it comfortably and maintain 4 - 5 knots for the next 18 hours. Bliss! The night was clearer and the moon brighter. We have been visited over the last 24 hours by a squadron of brown-footed boobies who have been entertaining us with their incredible aerobatics. Two decided to spend the night on our pulpit and they looked amazing silhouetted against the moonlight. Doug wasn't quite so amazed in the morning when he had to clean up what they left behind!
In addition to the boobies, we have been visited by tiny little sea birds skimming the waves and a small squid decided he would try life on deck. It didn't work out for him! The best sight, however, was to see a false Orca completely leap out of the water a hundred meters from Ka'sala. I could hardly believe my eyes as it looked like an enormous dolphin with the profile of an Orca - but without the black and white colouring. Imagine: a false, false whale! We watched and watched for him to jump again, but we were disappointed.
Last night we both slept very well and extended our morning watch from two to four hours each. We know we need to be flexible to accommodate our needs. Each day we will feel more in tune with the non stop movement. However, none of that has stopped us from preparing meals and eating well.
It is still very warm, especially in the cabin, and the sea is an incredible colour of light blue. I have only experienced it away from land and, when I am not at sea, I often dream of it. Pretty special.
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