Northern Pacific 18 May 2012 00:32 38N07 170W05
Our hopes for stable winds from that steady pacific high have been dashed. The high has been stable, but the winds are light and fluky, from behind then on the nose, from the port, then from starboard. We stop the engine and the winds die down, we tack and the winds push around to that side. It’s amazing that man can control the wind, all we have to do is make a maneuver, and the winds will turn to counter that maneuver. So we zig and we zag and we putt and we coast. The weather charts tempt us daily with wind 100 miles north of our current position, tantalizingly close, just out of reach. But it’s an easy life aboard, I can make bread without bracing myself at all times. And the growing chill in the air marks our steady progress northward. We’ve added socks to our wardrobe, and I’m considering breaking out the long-johns. We’ve put 1000 miles behind us, 850 in front as the crow flies. There are probably a lot more of both miles behind and miles ahead in actual track. Now starting on our 11th day, we are past the halfway mark in miles (still 2/3rds of our fuel left). This will not be a 15 day passage.
We saw a freighter today so we’re officially past the invisible wall of the Papahanaumokuakea sensitive sea area, past the musician’s sea mounts. There is a lot more floating debris than south of Hawaii, but no island of trash yet. We spotted 3 whales very close today Minke we thinke, and the daily Albatross count seems to be on the increase.
Hugs straight across to our Northern California friends, who are probably starting to peel layers off as we add them.
All’s well on board. xoxomo