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May 21 Started the engine at midnight as
the winds went calm. Very light traffic approaching the shipping lanes.
Got close to Tathoos island and then crossed over to the Canadian side.
12 miles to Race rocks and we should well before noon in Victoria. The
weather is gorgeous and the coastline looks fantastic. 49 colors of
green. We will take a break from writing the log as writers block is
setting in. God Bless you all.
May 20 This morning we find ourself's
approaching the coast in light and variable winds. The weather forecast
call s for W 10 -20 Kts.
It is mainly overcast and cool. The water temp is 8.6 celcius. Spotted a
whale this morning and a batch of kelp. 45 Nm to go to our way point set
at N49.30. W 125.00.
All eyes are looking for land and an atmosphere of anticipation hangs
over the ship. We can hear the Coast guard channel and radio station are
coming in clear. The cell phone's will start working soon. No land in
sight yet. May 19 Great sailing again. Yesterday we
had a steady increase of wind till last night it got up to 20 -25 and we
reefed the main. This morning shook the reef at 0800 hrs as the wind is
down a bit. About 180 Nm to Go.
Last night we passed Cobb Sea mount. This is a large underwater mountain
rising over 10.000' of the sea bottom. The tip is just underwater about
33 meters(110') We sailed overtop of it with the objective to see of we
could find is shallow enough to anchor on. The shallowest we found was
453' to deep to do anything with but than we did not explore. Conditions
where not ideal as the seas where building and we had squalls around us.
This would have been fun and if given another change would like to try
to find the peak and anchor just for the fun of it.
Looks like we get in Juan de Fuca tomorrow if the weather holds.
May 18 We are awaiting the next low and
the in the mean time we are sailing slowly in almost flat condition.
This is although slow very nice as we have very little motion and the
boat moves at 3-5 4 Kts. We all slept very well as the last few days we
rolled a lot and sleeping is difficult.
Sign are every where we are approaching land. We met our firsts big log
a day ago, some bull kelp this morning. Yesterday we caught our firsts
coho. Nice fish about 5-6 lbs. We had a few strike since.
291 Nm to go. Like always dreaming of being there and a new appreciation
for the simple things like uninterrupted sleep, not having to hold on
every moment even in your bunk. Clean clothes, unlimited showers, no
autopilot noise Etc. Feasting our eyes on 49 different shades of green
after having had that many shades of grey and bleu for the last few
weeks. The incredible feeling of being part of the crew and voyage on
this very capable little ship. The sense of having done it and sneaked
one more safe voyage from the sea.
The latest. Crew is all exited about Cobb Seamount. The charts shows it
to be only 13 fathoms deep. We will try to find it as our course is very
close to it. ETA sometime tonight May 17 A great sail the last few days.
We rode the low till midnight when it moved on and left us again with
confused sea and no wind. It was wild and we had no choice to take the
sail down and start the engine to stabilize the boat. This morning at
0600 hrs the SE winds came back very light but building. This signals
the next low coming in. We hope this one will hang in long enough so we
can get in on it.
We have a lot of birds around this trip. Mainly Fulmar's a large seagull
like bird with a wingspan of 42". They are fairly stupid as we have a
hard time keeping them of the fishing lines. The are great fliers and
stay on there wings for hours circling around. Another bird is a smaller
seabird resembling a pigeon with webbed feet. Last night when we where
on deck they came around attracted by the lights we think, Tom actual
managed to pick one up.
We have 390 NM to Juan De Fuca and the weather forecast looks like we
may get enough wind to blow us in.
Our shaft generator is working out well. It produces up to 20 AMPs at 12
volt. It works of a pulley mounted on the prop shaft. It helps reducing
genset running time by almost half, if we sail a a good clip.
May 15 Since last report we motored for
another many hours. For a total of 38 hours. The winds came very slowly
and we set sail at 0200 hrs a Thursday morning. Since then we had a
robust sail till overnight things slowed down. We gibed back and forth
and managed to keep the boat going. At times it was very rolly as the
winds are light and there is not enough wind to keep the boat heeled
over. Had a hard time sleeping as wedging ourself's in a corner keeps us
busy. Matter of fact on most passage we loose weight due to the constant
exercise to hold on. In the beginning of a passage most of our crew
complain about muscle soreness. This is due to the constant holding on.
So in addition that time spend onboard can be added to ones live span
you also loose weight.
The weather picture is very complex and very dynamic. We getting the
bottom of the lows ride them a bit and than they move on leaving us
rolling in confused seas. This is somewhat normal for this passage but
this year is extreme. It has been foggy and rainy. Matter of fact
yesterday we had a deluge. A couple inches in a few hours. All is
getting soft on deck. That is the lines and sheets. sail etc. nothing
better than soft rain to clean things up.
Our crew is doing fine. They do there watches and little chores. Not to
much to do as we just have the sail changes and a few little things to
do. Sail handling is easily done with one person if need by as all leads
are aft.
Joanne is baking almost every day something. Bread or Muffins. A well
fed crew makes a happy ship. David is converted to a gentle man sailor
now and likes to have a pilot house yacht as he has seen the light.
May 13 What a difference a day can make.
Yesterday morning we sailed now we are motoring. Around noon yesterday
the wind shut down and left a wildly confused big sea. Impossible to
sail as the boat got knocked around and the sails do not get enough air
to stay full. This is the worst after a storm moves on and the best is
to motor or take all sails down and ride it out. We where rolling both
ways and even in the bunks we had to hold on. Right now things are much
better but we still have no wind. The ocean is still swelly but nothing
like yesterday. It is foggy.
We are sailing through large patches of jellyfish. Matter of fact
trillions of them. They gather in patches and look like little sailing
ships.
The days get longer real fast. In a few days we seen our daylight
increase by almost 2 hours.
Another low is on its way. We can't wait as this engine running is not
what we came for! May 12 Like a surf rider we are riding
the Low. We are still in the SE quadrant and the winds although down
from their peaks, are still making us move a long at a good clip.
Overnight we had up to 35 Kts. Triple reefed main and a reefed Genoa
still making 7.5 Kts in big seas. Yesterday made a little over 170 Nm
Noon to noon. Today close to the same. We could push a bit more but at
times things are getting overloaded and than dealing with it is a pain.
It is raining cats & dogs.
This morning at dawn shook out one reef in the main and went to full
Genoa with one wrap around the furler to protect it from chafe. Still a
great ride with the seas on the quarter.
Overnight we hit a big one and where knocked over at least 40 degrees
sending Tom's coffee mug flying and self destruct in many pieces. Joanne
says once more and it will be Styrofoam cups. It is getting colder and
Joanne is talking long johns.
May 10 Yesterday we had a good sailing
day. The Low passed us to the West and we rode the Easter side with SE
winds. After it passed the wind veered to the South and during the night
SW. Great sailing but we had expected a bit more wind more as the 25 Kts
we seen. As normal after a low moves on we are left with lighter winds
and confused seas. This due to to the fact that the waves have been
driven in different directions.
Another big low is moving in on us and we try to get North as fast we
can to get a piece of the action. It is forecast to have 50-60 Kts of
wind but it will be to far North for us to get that. So the strategy is
to try the eastern side with SE and South winds.
A high is forming to our SB.
All is well. Crew is very relaxed on this trip. May
9 Yesterday we had a good sailing day. The Low passed us to
the West and we rode the Easter side with SE winds. After it passed the
wind veered to the South and during the night SW. Great sailing but we
had expected a bit more wind more as the 25 Kts we seen. As normal after
a low moves on we are left with lighter winds and confused seas. This
due to to the fact that the waves have been driven in different
directions.
Another big low is moving on on us and we try to get North as fast we
can to get a piece of the action. It is forecast to have 50-60 Kts of
wind but it will be to far North for us to get that. So the strategy is
to try the eastern side with SE and South winds.
A high is forming to our SB.
All is well. Crew is very relaxed on this trip. May 8 A low is approaching on our transom
and we have steered East to get positioned on the NE quadrant. We want
to avoid the Western Quadrant as that will give NE winds. The sea are
building but we make good speed around 8 Kts. We still have all sail up
on a beam reach.
Yesterday afternoon we found a large bird on our fishing hook. A
unintentional catch and a case for a paci(fished).
Looks like we going to have good sailing for the next 2 days till the
low moves on. Vancouver Island will get hit by it in a few days if it
holds course. No better sailing than a gale on the quarter.
May 7 Last night we had a front coming
through and we did some spirited sailing. We had to reef the main and a
double reef in the Genoa. Winds gusting high 20 and a nasty wind waves.
Frontal passage was around midnight and after that.. flat calm. The
engine went on at 0100 hrs this morning and we will be burning fuel for
some time it looks.
It is very mild and cloudy.
Yesterday we had our 3rd and 4th Mahi Mahi. The last one rather late
last night and as the boat was rocking and rolling and conditions where
not very good for cleaning it, we let that one go. Mainly on account of
our paci(fished) Tom. This morning we put the lines out again as we have
many at home who would like a piece of Mahi.
May 6 All is well. The last few days
light winds and till yesterday a big 12' swell from the NW. The winds
light and almost always from the NE the direction we want to go. So we
tacked around a bit and generally made Northing.
This morning we got into some squalls and dark weather. Then it turned
into a steady 15-20 Kts NE with a nasty wind wave. So we pounding into
it right now with wet decks and spray coming over the bow and once in a
while a deck sweeper.
The last 2 days we had a Mahi every day. Good size and we have some
frozen.
We are in the Gyre the place where the ocean garbage supposedly gathers.
WE have seen some plastic and just passed a large net float. Nothing
spectacular
but more junk than we see anywhere else.
"Firewater" is 360 nm behind us and is stuck in a hole. Yesterday we met
the "Saga Crest" underway to Venezuela by Panama canal. We had a close
encounter and they altered course as we would have been within a 1/4
mile.
They where loaded with a deck cargo of large pipes. They often call on
Nanaimo and the officer we talked to know all about it.
The weather is to turn to a Southerly and another depression is due to
come through in a few days. We have high hopes of getting a blow and
doing some exiting sailing.( Tom wishes)
May 4 We crossed right through the high.
Yesterday morning the winds where Easterly and died late morning.
Looking at the weather picture we decide to make a run for the other
side as the winds looked promising at 26 north. 20 hours later we are in
SW winds and making about 4 Kts. The winds should pick up from here.
Looks like a good move. There are several lows passing North of us with
lots of winds. Last nigh was another best night we have seen on the
ocean. The clouds spectacular and the moon setting at 0230 or so. Warm
and sunny.
This from Tom.
Good thing I have thick skin... John and I have been having mucho fun
teasing
each other. Joanne made both of us look really bad yesterday. John and
I had spent a half hour trying to troubleshoot an inverter. We had
batteries and meters and test lights out to no avail...We were about to
give up. When Joanne picked up the fuse, which looked good, she touched
the end cap and it fell off in her hand! Wow, did we have sheepish faces
and a good laugh. Last night, it was BEAUTIFUL up on deck during my 9
to 12 watch, half a moon, stars and wonderful clouds. We motored for
about 16 hrs and finally made sail at around 0600 this morning. We are
busy this morning drinking tea and hoping for more wind. The weather
report says maybe more tomorrow, if we can cover some ocean and catch up
to it. Food is great. Company is good and our "little world" sails on.
May 3 It has been fantastic weather the
last few days. The Ocean blue and the skies to match. The winds light
but the ocean calm enough to keep sailing. Afternoon skinny dip on the
transom and a afternoon shower. Tom Jumped overboard yesterday for a
extra trill.
We had the dinghy in the water yesterday and had a blast racing around
and making pictures. Even when the ocean looks flat we find often that
if one gets away from the boat a little ways the swells make us
disappear be hind them.
The skies have been extraordinary with spectacular sun rise and sunsets.
We have had a number of squalls coming thru the last night with some
wind and rain. Nothing strong so we had to reef. The stars where within
touching range. We lost the Southern cross to the South but the
Northern constellation become more prominent.
We are crossing through a high right now. Overnight the wind freshened
from the East and for a while we where hauling but now we are back to a
slow speed. We need to get to 30 North before we can hop on the
depression train to ride us in.
Just got overtaken by a cruise ship probable on its way to Juan De Fuca
As well May 1 Off to a slow start. A new high
above Hawaii is giving us a light NE winds. This makes for slow sailing
but we can keep it going without slapping the sails. The Ocean is calm
with a low swell. The wind direction forces us to go more West than we
like.
A few squalls overnight but no real weather out of them.
We spotted a few piece of junk yesterday and no doubt will see more when
we get to the Pacific Gyre.
Crew is doing well and no Mal de Mere. Great sailing conditions North of
us at 26 North. Will takes us a few days getting there at this pace.
It is great fishing for the fish. We have new gear and two lines out.
In the morning we are busy doing Vegetable, rigging, tanks, bilges etc.
checks. Had a good swim yesterday afternoon in the Azure color water.
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