21.21 N
153.50 W
Distance Travelled: 134 NM - 246 NM left to go!
Today marks three weeks at sea and, I have to say, the time really has flown by. In fact, when I look back the days seem to blur together and I am thankful I kept my journal and this blog to look back on some day. It has been quite a journey, so far!
Yesterday was an almost perfect sailing day, however, last night we had challenges as the winds gusted and deflated which meant we were in the cockpit doing a fair amount of tweaking - we're sailing - right? What are we supposed to be doing? Sleeping? Watching movies??? Then the wind died to a trace and Doug fired up the engine to get us going again. We also needed to top up the batteries, so it wasn't really a problem.
For the first half hour the prop did a bit of grumbling - it hadn't been pushing the boat in almost three weeks, so no doubt there was some growth on it. Doug noticed that we seemed to be having a problem with our electrical system. He spent a few hours doing diagnostics and eliminating some obvious things, but will have to spend some time on it when we get to Honolulu. It won't effect the rest of our passage, thank goodness. Could be something to do with the alternator or the batteries...time will tell.
The wind really didn't pick up again until after noon and now we are broad reaching following 270 True at about 5.5 knots. An enormous north swell has picked up again, so it isn't a particularly smooth ride. Although it is sunny and warm, we can see towering cumulus building in the distance and we shall have to keep our eyes open for squalls tonight. The winds are predicted by NOAA to be 10 - 15 over the next two days, but could be higher. At any rate, all looks good for our arrival in Honolulu sometime Wednesday morning.
The stars last night were amazing again and this time I used my binoculars to check them out. It is astounding how many are out there and really makes you wonder if we aren't alone in the universe. I watched a film called "Jupiter Ascending" about this topic. In this fantasy, a super elite humanoid cartel seed planets with humans that they can "harvest" when their populations exceed the ability for the planet to sustain them. They render the biological material to make a special serum that allows the humanoids to live eternally. Well, there is more to the story, but it caught my attention as I was looking at those stars! Ha Ha
Two more sleeps.......
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Monday, May 14, 2018
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Sunday, May 13 - Day 20
21.17 N
151.34 W
Distance travelled: 120 NM - 380 to go!
Happy Mother's Day! A special day for special people. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful mother, Wineita Coleman, whom I cherish. Although I can't celebrate the day with her, I am with her in spirit and send my love.
Conditions calmed down considerably over this last 24 hour period. We had about 10 knots during the night and the seas were low enough that we weren't banged around too much. We both slept well. On our watches we enjoyed gazing at the stars - still not particularly bright, but a stupendous number were visible, including the Milky Way, against a backdrop of inky black. On clear nights on the ocean, we can see the stars right on the horizon (in fact sometimes we think they are the lights of ships) because there is no ambient light from land. From where we are now, we can see the Southern Cross and the North Star. Spectacular!
Last night a flying fish decided to pay Doug a visit in the cockpit. The mess it made gave me an excuse to wash down the cockpit and clean the plastic windows on the dodger and side panels. Ka'sala will look great when she pulls into the Hawaii Yacht Club - the captain and crew? Hopefully not too smelly and scruffy! We will certainly have a big bag of laundry!
Mid morning the wind backed and picked up. We are now sailing at 6.5 knots on a beam reach - an excellent point of sail for Ka'sala. Down below we can hear the swishing of the water along the hull. We are relatively stable. Up above, it is warm in the cockpit under sunny skies with puffy clouds. In a word: stunning! We will enjoy every last minute of it!
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151.34 W
Distance travelled: 120 NM - 380 to go!
Happy Mother's Day! A special day for special people. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful mother, Wineita Coleman, whom I cherish. Although I can't celebrate the day with her, I am with her in spirit and send my love.
Conditions calmed down considerably over this last 24 hour period. We had about 10 knots during the night and the seas were low enough that we weren't banged around too much. We both slept well. On our watches we enjoyed gazing at the stars - still not particularly bright, but a stupendous number were visible, including the Milky Way, against a backdrop of inky black. On clear nights on the ocean, we can see the stars right on the horizon (in fact sometimes we think they are the lights of ships) because there is no ambient light from land. From where we are now, we can see the Southern Cross and the North Star. Spectacular!
Last night a flying fish decided to pay Doug a visit in the cockpit. The mess it made gave me an excuse to wash down the cockpit and clean the plastic windows on the dodger and side panels. Ka'sala will look great when she pulls into the Hawaii Yacht Club - the captain and crew? Hopefully not too smelly and scruffy! We will certainly have a big bag of laundry!
Mid morning the wind backed and picked up. We are now sailing at 6.5 knots on a beam reach - an excellent point of sail for Ka'sala. Down below we can hear the swishing of the water along the hull. We are relatively stable. Up above, it is warm in the cockpit under sunny skies with puffy clouds. In a word: stunning! We will enjoy every last minute of it!
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Saturday, May 12, 2018
Saturday, May 12 - Day 19
21.12 N
149.19 W
Distance travelled: 133 NM - 500 NM left
Aaaaaaah! Now this is nice! We are coasting along at 5.5 knots in 15 knots of wind. It would be absolutely perfect if the seas were flatter, but that close cross swell persists. Even though Ka'sala continues to rock, the movement is a bit gentler. The sun is shining. The sky is blue. It is warm - 28 degrees, and the sea a crystal blue. Gorgeous! We have had to work the sails, moving from wing on wing to a deep beam reach to keep Ka'sala as stable as possible.
We ran the engine today to top up the batteries, which also provided us with hot water to take a "bath". Lovely! It was calm enough that I was able to make a chickpea curry this morning and a little later I will make another batch of naan bread. Although we are down to apples, onions and potatoes, I have been able to plan out the rest of our meals until our arrival and we will be fine.
We aren't quite at the time zone, but decided to move to it this morning as we ended the night watches. We will stay in this zone until we are halfway to Sitka in late June.
We are in the "zone" for Hawaii weather reports and the outlook is looking excellent for the remainder of our passage - 10 - 15 knot winds and no southern swell. Of course the wind and waves will accelerate through the channels between the islands, but it should be manageable. We will monitor the weather closely and keep our fingers crossed that the predictions turn out to be correct. We are still expecting to arrive in Honolulu sometime on Wednesday.
We haven't seen any plastic or garbage in the sea until today. We were in the cockpit enjoying our lunch when we started noticing a fair amount of flotsam gliding by. Most of it was hand-sized bits of plastic, hard to discern what they began life as. There was quite a bit of it over an hour of time, then it stopped. Where had it come from? Prevailing winds and current are behind us, so maybe we just caught up with it. Horrible to see in the pristine blue waters.
Our moods are buoyant aboard the pea-green boat! Har! Har!
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149.19 W
Distance travelled: 133 NM - 500 NM left
Aaaaaaah! Now this is nice! We are coasting along at 5.5 knots in 15 knots of wind. It would be absolutely perfect if the seas were flatter, but that close cross swell persists. Even though Ka'sala continues to rock, the movement is a bit gentler. The sun is shining. The sky is blue. It is warm - 28 degrees, and the sea a crystal blue. Gorgeous! We have had to work the sails, moving from wing on wing to a deep beam reach to keep Ka'sala as stable as possible.
We ran the engine today to top up the batteries, which also provided us with hot water to take a "bath". Lovely! It was calm enough that I was able to make a chickpea curry this morning and a little later I will make another batch of naan bread. Although we are down to apples, onions and potatoes, I have been able to plan out the rest of our meals until our arrival and we will be fine.
We aren't quite at the time zone, but decided to move to it this morning as we ended the night watches. We will stay in this zone until we are halfway to Sitka in late June.
We are in the "zone" for Hawaii weather reports and the outlook is looking excellent for the remainder of our passage - 10 - 15 knot winds and no southern swell. Of course the wind and waves will accelerate through the channels between the islands, but it should be manageable. We will monitor the weather closely and keep our fingers crossed that the predictions turn out to be correct. We are still expecting to arrive in Honolulu sometime on Wednesday.
We haven't seen any plastic or garbage in the sea until today. We were in the cockpit enjoying our lunch when we started noticing a fair amount of flotsam gliding by. Most of it was hand-sized bits of plastic, hard to discern what they began life as. There was quite a bit of it over an hour of time, then it stopped. Where had it come from? Prevailing winds and current are behind us, so maybe we just caught up with it. Horrible to see in the pristine blue waters.
Our moods are buoyant aboard the pea-green boat! Har! Har!
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Friday, May 11, 2018
Friday, May 11 - Day 18
21.15 N
146.57 W
Distance Travelled: 144 NM - 633 NM to Honolulu!
Another good mileage day! Although less than yesterday, it is more impressive because we did not have any current supplementing our speed. Yesterday afternoon the winds and seas calmed down, but picked up again in the early evening and took us through the night. The wind seemed to rise and fall in spans of 10 knots (from 15 - 25 knots), so we were constantly fiddling with the sails - double reefed main and dialing the jib in and out. We seem to have picked up a large cross swell that has Ka'sala rocking and rolling and the sails thundering and banging as we ride through it. We are travelling wing on wing, directly down wind. This sail configuration is awkward in these conditions because the boat is not as stable as it would be on a reach (when the wind comes from the side). Why aren't we reaching then? It would mean falling off our track at least 30 degrees.
We are focussing on our approach to the Islands and Doug is monitoring weather faxes and reports. We have several choices for our approach to Oahu. We can pass through the Alenuihaha Channel between the Big Island and Maui, or continue north and pass through either the channel between Maui and Molokai, or Molokai and Oahu. A lot of it will depend on wind and sea state - something we won't be able to really take into viable consideration until at least Sunday. We will likely see Maui on Monday.
Tomorrow we will be passing through another time zone at 150 degrees and will be on Hawaii time! When I think of the passage so far, it seems to have flown by. In 2011, when we sailed from Mexico to Hilo on the Big Island, it took us just over 23 days. It will probably end up taking the same amount of time to get to Honolulu, which is 2 degrees farther west and north. Not bad. But as my Mom always said: Don't count your chickens before they hatch! Hopefully the winds will keep in our favour!
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146.57 W
Distance Travelled: 144 NM - 633 NM to Honolulu!
Another good mileage day! Although less than yesterday, it is more impressive because we did not have any current supplementing our speed. Yesterday afternoon the winds and seas calmed down, but picked up again in the early evening and took us through the night. The wind seemed to rise and fall in spans of 10 knots (from 15 - 25 knots), so we were constantly fiddling with the sails - double reefed main and dialing the jib in and out. We seem to have picked up a large cross swell that has Ka'sala rocking and rolling and the sails thundering and banging as we ride through it. We are travelling wing on wing, directly down wind. This sail configuration is awkward in these conditions because the boat is not as stable as it would be on a reach (when the wind comes from the side). Why aren't we reaching then? It would mean falling off our track at least 30 degrees.
We are focussing on our approach to the Islands and Doug is monitoring weather faxes and reports. We have several choices for our approach to Oahu. We can pass through the Alenuihaha Channel between the Big Island and Maui, or continue north and pass through either the channel between Maui and Molokai, or Molokai and Oahu. A lot of it will depend on wind and sea state - something we won't be able to really take into viable consideration until at least Sunday. We will likely see Maui on Monday.
Tomorrow we will be passing through another time zone at 150 degrees and will be on Hawaii time! When I think of the passage so far, it seems to have flown by. In 2011, when we sailed from Mexico to Hilo on the Big Island, it took us just over 23 days. It will probably end up taking the same amount of time to get to Honolulu, which is 2 degrees farther west and north. Not bad. But as my Mom always said: Don't count your chickens before they hatch! Hopefully the winds will keep in our favour!
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Thursday, May 10, 2018
Thursday, May 10 = Day 17
20.57 N
144.32 W
Distance travelled: 153 NM, 777 NM to go!
As you can see by our mileage, we had a lot of wind over the last 24 hours. Wind speeds averaged at 25 knots and gusts got up to 30. The seas followed suit and we had pretty rough conditions, high and confused, all over the place. Inside Ka'sala it felt like we were in a barrel going over Niagara Falls (although we were never upside down, we bumped up and down, skewered side to side, rocked, rolled...we just held on.) We also had about one knot of current with us, and we roared along to our destination with a double reefed main, and 1/3 of the jib out. Despite the conditions, we were both able to sleep in our off watches and even watch a movie! Either we are getting blase' or used to it! (Seasoned, hardened sailors, har har!)
I was concerned these conditions would persist for a few days, but by late morning today seas and winds subsided. We are now riding along, fairly smoothly, full sails and 15 knots of wind and still averaging 6 knots! Long may it continue!
We were quite intrigued to see a low developing southeast of us when consulting the weather fax. Based on the long range forecast, it should not effect us, but it certainly got our attention.
Last night it was especially dark. The moon didn't rise until almost morning and I thought the starlight would be bright without any illumination, so far from land. However, even though we could see many stars, they were not "twinkling", nor did there seem to be a lot of starlight. Yet I have been on night watch in the past, in similar conditions, and the starlight was so bright I could almost read by it. Doug thinks there must be a high level thick haze blocking it out.
Despite the difficult conditions, all is well aboard Ka'sala. This time next week, I hope to be sitting on the veranda of the Hawaii Yacht Club, sipping something cold, after having the most incredible hot water shower, catching up with family, friends and news on the internet. What a lovely thought! Oh, and savouring a delicious meal on a plate (instead of a bowl), on a table, with fussy little bits of this and that I can take my time to consume with a knife and fork. And not have it fly off my knees! And a glass or two of wine - of course!
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144.32 W
Distance travelled: 153 NM, 777 NM to go!
As you can see by our mileage, we had a lot of wind over the last 24 hours. Wind speeds averaged at 25 knots and gusts got up to 30. The seas followed suit and we had pretty rough conditions, high and confused, all over the place. Inside Ka'sala it felt like we were in a barrel going over Niagara Falls (although we were never upside down, we bumped up and down, skewered side to side, rocked, rolled...we just held on.) We also had about one knot of current with us, and we roared along to our destination with a double reefed main, and 1/3 of the jib out. Despite the conditions, we were both able to sleep in our off watches and even watch a movie! Either we are getting blase' or used to it! (Seasoned, hardened sailors, har har!)
I was concerned these conditions would persist for a few days, but by late morning today seas and winds subsided. We are now riding along, fairly smoothly, full sails and 15 knots of wind and still averaging 6 knots! Long may it continue!
We were quite intrigued to see a low developing southeast of us when consulting the weather fax. Based on the long range forecast, it should not effect us, but it certainly got our attention.
Last night it was especially dark. The moon didn't rise until almost morning and I thought the starlight would be bright without any illumination, so far from land. However, even though we could see many stars, they were not "twinkling", nor did there seem to be a lot of starlight. Yet I have been on night watch in the past, in similar conditions, and the starlight was so bright I could almost read by it. Doug thinks there must be a high level thick haze blocking it out.
Despite the difficult conditions, all is well aboard Ka'sala. This time next week, I hope to be sitting on the veranda of the Hawaii Yacht Club, sipping something cold, after having the most incredible hot water shower, catching up with family, friends and news on the internet. What a lovely thought! Oh, and savouring a delicious meal on a plate (instead of a bowl), on a table, with fussy little bits of this and that I can take my time to consume with a knife and fork. And not have it fly off my knees! And a glass or two of wine - of course!
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Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Wednesday, May 9 - Day 16
20.48 N
141.46 W
Distance Travelled: 132 NM - 930 to go!
The nasty seas have come back along with an increase in wind. Yesterday afternoon we noticed a very large, long period swell coming from the north - at least 4 meters high. When the wind filled in to 20 knots in the night, a wind chop from the NE joined that swell and so we are slewing and rolling side to side once more. Not a particularly comfortable ride, but we are safe, warm and dry - and on track. The conditions are supposed to persist over the next couple days as we watch the miles tick off to our destination.
Doug looked at the weatherfax this morning and noticed that a low he had spotted to the south east of us has not dissipated as he had hoped. It is moving slowly north, but will likely not affect us. Thank goodness! I am beginning to think it will be very nice to be in a safe harbour again soon.
Last night a brown bird with an elegant long wing span did a magnificent aerial ballet over the waves behind Ka'sala. We were playing Diana Krall and it was like it knew the tune as it soared all around - a truly lovely sight.
We are reading and keeping a close eye on the conditions, otherwise, it is a quiet day aboard Ka'sala.
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141.46 W
Distance Travelled: 132 NM - 930 to go!
The nasty seas have come back along with an increase in wind. Yesterday afternoon we noticed a very large, long period swell coming from the north - at least 4 meters high. When the wind filled in to 20 knots in the night, a wind chop from the NE joined that swell and so we are slewing and rolling side to side once more. Not a particularly comfortable ride, but we are safe, warm and dry - and on track. The conditions are supposed to persist over the next couple days as we watch the miles tick off to our destination.
Doug looked at the weatherfax this morning and noticed that a low he had spotted to the south east of us has not dissipated as he had hoped. It is moving slowly north, but will likely not affect us. Thank goodness! I am beginning to think it will be very nice to be in a safe harbour again soon.
Last night a brown bird with an elegant long wing span did a magnificent aerial ballet over the waves behind Ka'sala. We were playing Diana Krall and it was like it knew the tune as it soared all around - a truly lovely sight.
We are reading and keeping a close eye on the conditions, otherwise, it is a quiet day aboard Ka'sala.
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Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Tuesday, May 8 - Day 15
20.42 N
139.18 W
Distance travelled: 121 NM - 1062 to go! Two thirds of the way there!
Another beautiful 24 hours! We were able to stay on a beam reach, starboard tack, for the whole period, averaging 5 knots under full sail. The deep blue seas - now 24 degrees - are comfortable, with only an occasional swell making us slither around. There was little moon in the night and a lot of cloud cover, but today the sun is shining again and it is quite warm - almost 30 degrees in the cabin. We are currently in 10 - 12 knots, but the winds are supposed to pick up to 20 over the next couple days. It is beginning to look like we will arrive in Honolulu late next week - hopefully before the 18th. All is well aboard.
We ran the engine today for 1.5 hours to top up our batteries. The electrical system continues to do well and we use our electronics at will. The fridge hums happily. The beer is cold.
We had a gorgeous sunset last night as we ate our "imitation" pot roast dinner. Afterward Doug checked into the PacSeaNet and afterward we talked to our friends Jan and Joanneke, from Witte Raaf, over the SSB radio. It was wonderful to hear our friends' voices.
In the evening light I enjoyed watching the flying fish skimming along the crests of the waves, their silver bodies glittering in the dying light. They are amazing creatures and look a little like kite boards, their long fins like twin dagger boards - steadying them on the surface.
I spent another meditative morning in the cockpit, random thoughts of our next passage, exploring the Alaska coast and returning to our home in Comox, filtering through my mind. All going well, two months from now we will be anticipating our arrival in Sitka, Alaska! It certainly won't be as warm a passage as this one! What will it be like to live in our own house again after more than three years aboard Ka'sala, in the van and house sitting? I wonder. I imagine. A new chapter.
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139.18 W
Distance travelled: 121 NM - 1062 to go! Two thirds of the way there!
Another beautiful 24 hours! We were able to stay on a beam reach, starboard tack, for the whole period, averaging 5 knots under full sail. The deep blue seas - now 24 degrees - are comfortable, with only an occasional swell making us slither around. There was little moon in the night and a lot of cloud cover, but today the sun is shining again and it is quite warm - almost 30 degrees in the cabin. We are currently in 10 - 12 knots, but the winds are supposed to pick up to 20 over the next couple days. It is beginning to look like we will arrive in Honolulu late next week - hopefully before the 18th. All is well aboard.
We ran the engine today for 1.5 hours to top up our batteries. The electrical system continues to do well and we use our electronics at will. The fridge hums happily. The beer is cold.
We had a gorgeous sunset last night as we ate our "imitation" pot roast dinner. Afterward Doug checked into the PacSeaNet and afterward we talked to our friends Jan and Joanneke, from Witte Raaf, over the SSB radio. It was wonderful to hear our friends' voices.
In the evening light I enjoyed watching the flying fish skimming along the crests of the waves, their silver bodies glittering in the dying light. They are amazing creatures and look a little like kite boards, their long fins like twin dagger boards - steadying them on the surface.
I spent another meditative morning in the cockpit, random thoughts of our next passage, exploring the Alaska coast and returning to our home in Comox, filtering through my mind. All going well, two months from now we will be anticipating our arrival in Sitka, Alaska! It certainly won't be as warm a passage as this one! What will it be like to live in our own house again after more than three years aboard Ka'sala, in the van and house sitting? I wonder. I imagine. A new chapter.
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