Tomorrow morning we are due to depart to Victoria. Our visit just long enough but eager to move on  to other places.

Our new crew Rugger & Keith.

 

No email as the pactor modem seems defective.

 

For updates on ships position check the pacific seafarers net.at

http://www.shiptrak.org/  search for my Ham license -  KG6BJW 

or

http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/reporter_list.php

You  have to register at this site but they only require an Email address so it is pretty simple.  You will need to download the software and then install it.  Then just select the region you are interested in  and the current reports will be downloaded and displayed.
 

Due in Victoria May 21 DV

Or simpler yet check back at the Capt Log every few days and our position will be posted.

Arrived the 18 the at night. Not without drama as our navigation computer crashed just as we where making our approach. Thanks to John M. who had it all studied no problem and we dropped the hook at 2200 hrs after a 2450 Nm voyage.

 

We have been busy ever since. Mending the Genoa, fixing two heads, the dinghy had a leak and removing  salt. Never seen so much caked on salt on deck before. But after a few days of work all looks and feels fine again. The cooler climate makes everything working much better. The fridge is working fine again. Today we are finally ready to relax a bit..

 

Heading for sea Tuesday morning.

Departed Moorea on March 31 in the afternoon. Had a last minute complication as our new crew member Thomas ended up wit a nasty tooth infection but thanks to a last minute dentist visit in Papeete got it all cleared up.

 

With our new crew Keith, John, Barbara and Thomas all went for a last visit to the Rays and had a great encounter with these beautiful creatures. The winds where fair and the sea calm we set sail from Cooks bay at 1400 hrs for a 2450nm passage to Hawaii. The first few days wind where light and the nights fantastic with the stars bright and the near full  moon. All suffering from heat as the temp of the water is 30C and the temp inside the boat never got lower than that, even at night. Keith and John M practicing celestial navigation. Shooting Sun and Moon.

 

Competition is intense for the cockpit bunks. Sleeping outside under the stars is the ultimate. Our intermediate waypoint is 00  N 145 W.

Fishing lines out and about 6 days in the voyage we passed within 10' a small raft or fishermen. These are structures constructed and set adrift by the tuna boats. These are very effective  to attract tuna as they like to prey on the fish gathering around them. Equipped with a beacon so they can be revisited and the seine nets set around them. As we passed by we got a hit on the fishing line and we caught a big king Mackerel yielding about 10 lbs of very good meat.

 

Winds went very light 2 days South of the Equator and ending up motoring for 2 days. Not good but we had planned for that as to try to sail that would have taken many days. John M still at celestial navigation. Spending hours refining his skills on Sun, planets, Moon and stars.

 

On April the 9th we crossed the Equator at 1000 hrs. Stopped the boat and went all for a swim in 2350 fathoms or nearly 14.000 feet. Shortly after picked up wind again. Encounter squalls off and on . Mainly light but a few with enough wind in them to keep us on our toes. Sail down when the wind increases than up again after it passes. John M is getting really good now. With in a few miles now.

 

Broke through the ITCZ at  05 N and start get freshening NE trades. Made a few good days of 170 to 180 Nm.

John is now shooting the moon, Venus, Saturn, Sirius and Capella.

 

The last week we have been sailing on and off close reached. Had a mishap just 200 Nm South of Hilo as in the middle of the night our Genoa ripped. Rolled it up and have since been sailing with main, staysail and a small piece of Genoa up. Looks like we will be sewing some sail when in Hilo. 

 

At time of writing we are sighting land and all are eagerly checking the phones.