News

Saturday May 1 2004
Sailed all day and all night on a run. Bearing 270 degrees. The genoa is gooswinged with the spinnaker pole as support on the port
side. The main flat open on the starboard side. Those 7 squalls did not hit us, but we got one late afternoon catching me with my
pants down as I had earlier hauled up the other spinnaker wing to wing to the genoa. This spinnaker is the boomless type and
assymetrical shaped and can act as a headsail too on a broad reach. Well, the wind caught me off guard and I had to get that
spinnaker down fast. I took it down too fast, burning all my fingers when I released the halyard !!
I am still nursing my sore fingers this morning, but another lesson learned. Still have not seen anything. Tried to get a noonshot with
the sextant, but I need to practice the "swing" some more. Will try again today.

Position at 0630 Pacific time
11-13 S
130-19 W
Cog 270
Sog 6 kts
Wind 12 kts
Wind from the E

Friday April 30 2004
The rain in Spain. It rained all day on and off, however we did make better progress than the previous four days.The wind was from
the south and we sailed mostly on a beam reach, bearing 250 degrees.
Saw a funnel cloud and took some video footage of it. I was watching it closely, but it did not threaten us.
I caught 5 more gallons of water and filled all my empty water bottles again. I am drinking a lot of water lately and I must admit the
rainwater tastes very good!
Cooked some rice and brown gravy topped with canned ham for supper.
This morning at the time of writing I am surrounded by 7 squalls and I am taking video footage of it.
Looks like another rainy day. I have had no success so far obtaining a weather fax. My closest station is Honululu, Hawaii, but the the
light blinking on the fax machine tells me the signal is too weak. I might have to try different frequency, but do not think it will work as
I cannot hear the tones. I just have to keep it on automatic recording and wait.

Position at 0600 hrs Pacific time
11-34 S
128-08 W
Cog 235
Sog 6.5 kts
Wind 10 kts
Wind from the ESE

Thursday April 29 2004
Yesterday was 4th day of almost no wind, however it was probably my happiest day since I left Balboa. A school of dolphins joined
us and swam with us for about 5 minutes before heading off. It was my first contact with mammals in 28 days and I took some video
footage of this occurence. It was beautifull to see 5 of them swimming shoulder to shoulder in front of IT 's bow! We were under
power at that moment giving the batteries their charge for nightfall.
The wind picked up later in the afternoon and we were sailing close hauled , bearing 280. The wind shifted occasionally throughout
the night, with some heavy squalls. I managed to catch 10 gallons of drinking water. This morning I am sailing behind a squall with
the wind at my back. The seas are still a little rough, causing us to roll. I furled up the genoa and at present time am sailing under
main only.
Position at 0600 hrs Pacific Time
10-42 S
126-21 W
Cog 250
Sog 5.5 kts
Wind 12 knts
Wind from ESE

Thursday April 29th 6am Pacific Time
Yesterday was the 4th day of almost no wind, however it was probably my happiest day since I left Balboa.

A school of dolphins joined us and swam with us for about 5 minutes before heading off. It was my first contact with mammals in 28
days and I took some video footage of this occurrence. It was beautiful to see 5 of them swimming shoulder to shoulder in front of IT
's bow! We were under power at that moment giving the batteries their charge for nightfall.

The wind picked up later in the afternoon and we were sailing close hauled, bearing 280. The wind shifted occasionally throughout
the night, with some heavy squalls. I managed to catch 10 gallons of drinking water.

This morning I am sailing behind a squall with the wind at my back. The seas are still a little rough, causing us to roll. I furled up the
genoa and at present time am sailing under main only.

Position at 0600 hrs Pacific Time
10-42 S
126-21 W
Cog 250
Sog 5.5 kts
Wind 12 knts
Wind from ESE

Wednesday pm
Got my first company in 26 days! A school of dolphins come to join us while under power at 4 knots to charge batteries. Five of them
swam shoulder to shoulder in front of IT's bow!! I got it all on camera! It was short but it really brightened up my day! Wind picked up a
little from the west. Sailing close hauled towards the west. Will send log tomorrow morning.

Tuesday April 27 2004
Correction: yesterday's log should read bearing 280 then bearing 250. Sorry! Sailed all night and day bearing 250 degrees. Wind is
down, making very little progress. Average speed today was 3.5 kts. It is our third day in this almost doldrum. I cannot run the motor
as my fuel is too low. At this rate it will take 40 days to reach Samoa. The other alternate is to stop at Marquisas and fill up with diesel
and water. We will see. The wind may pick up anytime. Spent most of the time reading and ate my last piece of biltong today. As soon
as it gets cooler I will try to troll and see if I can get a bite, I doubt it, it is too deep here, almost 4000 meters or 12000 feet or 2000
fathoms! Position at 1700 Texas time 10-04 S 124-12 W Cog 250 Sog 3 knts Wind 5 kts From tomorrow I will send my position in the
morning, my time, or Pacific time, it is about 4 hrs difference from Texas time now.

Monday April 26 2004
Sailed all night bearing 200 degrees at 4.5 knots. At 10-7 S, 121-46 W. This morning I took a jibe bearing 180 degrees on a starboard
tack. At 0800 the wind shifted and we bear 150 degrees on a broad reach, still starboard tack. Wind from the NE. At time of writing
we are still maintaining the same course with very little wind. Average SOG today was 4.5 knots. Have not seen anything. Cleaned the
pig's mess and the galley looks attractive again.Checked all battery connections and tested them too. Everything is in order. Fuel is
very low, also the gas for the generator is low. Will have to slow down using the laptop, it consumes a lot of power. Will send my log
and position once a day from now on. Position at 1730 10-14 S 122-30 W Cog 155 Sog 4.2 knts Wind 6 knts Wind from NE Sunday

April 25 2004
Sailed wing on wing till 0200 this morning. Wind shifted and we were sailing bearing 330 and it was raining steadily too. Donning my
harness and a jacket, I went up front to take the spinnaker pole down from the genoa. We altered course sailing on a beam reach
again bearing 250 degrees. I managed to fill all my empty water bottles and filled up one 5 gallon container, saved two gallons for a
well earned bath. This morning wind shifted again, sailing on a beam reach bearing 180 degrees. Rolled up the genoa and got the
spinnaker which was still in the cockpit, wet and tangled up since I fished it out of the ocean. I dragged it up to the bow and sorted it
out carefully. Hauled the spinnaker up and it was flying again! Sailed on a run bearing 250 degrees until noon. Wind went down and
became uneven, which caused the spinnaker to tangle up all around the roller furling. Took me an hour to get the mess straightened
out. I got it flying again, but as I hurried back to the cockpit to adjust a sheet, it all tangled up again. What a mess! I got it down again
and dumped it into the front hatchway. Enough of spinnakers for today! Unfurled the genoa, set a new course, broad reach to beam
reach bearing 200 degrees. I plan to sail 24 hrs on this bearing, if the winds don't change, then will take a jibe, bearing 280. In other
words, we are tacking downwind. If wind speed increases, I will take out the spinnaker again. At 1700 hrs today, I have sailed exactly
4600nm since leaving Texas. As per my GPS tripmeter. It is still too hot to cook anything. I eat mostly tuna and crackers, crackers
with peanut butter and honey. All my sodas are done and I drink mostly water and tea. In between I snack on mixed nuts and dried
fruit. The galley is a mess, 'cause a pig lives here!! All the metal pots and pans are starting to rust up, also the cutlery. Too much salt
in the air. Have not seen anything yet! Just water! Position at 1700 9-03 S 121-08 W Cog 200 Sog 5.5 kt Wind 7 kt wind from the ESE

Sunday April 25 2004
Position at 0800 hrs 8-37 S 120-35 W Cog 235 Sog 6 kt Wind 10 kt Wind from SE

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