10 North

Aloha Everybody,
We are one third of the way now if we keep up to 120 miles a day. We made good progress last night into worsening seas till we finally had to slow down. Winds are about 25 kt and seas 10 feet. We are occasionally getting slammed pretty good. It is not comfortable and my sleep has suffered for it. The wind generator likes it though. Batteries are fully charged now. I am hoping the seas settle down later today. Sooner would be better. Forecast calls for 20 kt for another day. The problem is the waves.
So we did 110 miles in the last 24 hours. After roll call yesterday Don Aukus called me on his ham radio. His signal came in very strong and clear. Wish mine was as good. We got caught up on the latest at Makani Kai Marina. It was fun to talk to him via radio. We also used the Satphone yesterday. Ling called her mom in Singapore and I call my mom and dad. It was great to talk to them. This typing is difficult when the keyboard is a moving target. We are looking forward to getting a little further
South where the wind and seas should give us a nice break.
Ron

Mahi

Hello everyone. The big excitement yesterday was a double Mahi strike. I landed both then released one. Keeping the larger one, about 8 pounds, I cut him up and Ling made mahi sandwiches for lunch and Mahi Penang Curry for dinner. Yum! The seas have been rough for a couple days, about 10 feet, so we slowed down to make the motion more tolerable, especially at night. So our progress has slowed some. We are still pushing up to a 1 knot current as well. We made 119 miles in 24 hours yesterday. Today's
progress will be less. In calmer seas we do about 6.5 knots but have slowed to 5.5 for a better ride. Today the sky is completely clear so it looks like a nice day with no squalls and 18 knot wind. To control the boat speed I adjust the size of the jib. We have a very deep reef in it and a very small adjustment makes a big difference in speed. Going over 6 knots in these seas is not comfortable. Our position now is 12N 151W. The forcast is for another day of 20kt wind then it should start to lessen
to 15kts and 10kts by Sunday. It would be nice to open up the boat to air things out. Alot of water gets into the boat in the forpeak where it goes to the bilge. The bilge needs pumping several times a day. I am making a "to do" list and also a "shoulda/coulda" list. All minor stuff so far. It has been one week since we left. After the first few days I found myself asking "Are we there yet?" Now I have settled into a comfortable feeling of just sailing and being on the boat with our now familiar
routine. So that's the way it is a 12N today.
Aloha, Ron

Day 5

We are still tracking right along. We are easily holding our planned course on a very loose close reach. The seas are moderate at 5'. Yesterday after sunrise a large ship was spotted crossing our bow at 3 miles. Showed up well on radar. Hope we don't see anymore. Sleeping was better last night without the squalls to attend to. I was able to fix the fishing reel so now we have both lines out but still no fish. I do see some birds but no big piles. Some dolphins visited again. We are eating fine. I
made my easy Panang Curry on rice. That was a hit with the crew. Were not really eating that much. Maybe I'll lose a little weight. We have sailed 650 miles. It seems like such a long way, now that I'm doing it. But each day rolls into the next and the time goes by fast. I haven't had time to read. Sailing the boat, managing problems, and sleeping eats up the day. I am really pleased with the Ham radio. I have checked in each day with Pacific Seafarers Net. My signal goes out clear and the process
is easy. They are a great organization. Its comforting to talk to someone and they know we are here. And I should mention how wonderful it is to be able send email and download weather. Progress has been good. Our best was 140 miles in 24 hr. We are averaging 120/day. It would be better but the half knot current slows us down. We usually keep it going close to 6 kts. We are sailing under double reefed main and deeply reefed jib and staysail. We vary the jib with the wind. Last night we kept the jib
small and the speed down to 5 kts. That is better for night time. We heard Brandon caught a 120# Ahi on his new boat. That is great for him. Hello to everybody. Hope all is well.
Ron

Sailing along now

We sailed past South Point on the Big Island this morning. We hit the wind line and went from calm to 18 kts. The seas were a little rough at first but as we got further out they flattened out to 3 feet. We feel we are really on the way now. We are tracking our course line perfectly to cross the equator at 145W. The plotter says we will get there in 9 days. That would be the 14th or so. The wind generator is keeping up with the electrical load. The Ham radio is working well and is really fun. Problems,
not many. The diesel jugs in the lazerette are leaking a little through the vent caps. I had to pull them all out to reorient them and tighten the caps. Should not have been so full. We are doing well with our sleep and watch schedule. Trying to cook is a big challenge. Keep it simple is the plan. Have not caught fish but haven't really been trying too hard. One of my reels is messed up so I can only use one. Maybe should have brought hand lines. Its all good.

We are underway

We left Kaneohe yesterday at 12:30 with a great send off from my friends at Makani Kai. Thank you for all the leis. We expected light winds but actually had a great sail across to Lanai with 15 kt winds most of the way. We motored a bit during the night then sailed right across the Alenuihaha Channel on a close reach in 12 kt wind. In are now in the wind shadow of the Big Island and are forced to motor for awhile. We are settling into our watch schedule and disrupted sleep. Hope I will get used to
that. Our only real excitement was when twice a tug/barge came very near us in the dark. I called them on the radio and they were helpful in altering their course around us. My radar was great to have for those situations. Once past all the channels we haven't seen any traffic. Ling has been a very good crew. She is really excited about this trip and she learning the boat very quickly. We were visited by dolphins during the night under a full moon. Very nice!!

Day of departure getting close

We are just 3 days from departure and everything is looking good to go. I have recovered sufficiently from the surgery and the weather is looking perfect for a gentle start to the voyage. The forcast is for 10-15 kt east wind. That will give us a chance to get our sea legs before any rough stuff later. I am lucky to have found another volunteer to crew with me for the trip south. Ling has decided to make the sail and I feel fortunate to have her with me. We are planning to stop first at Rangiroa if we have made sufficient easting and have the time. We need to be in Papeete by June 30th. I expect 22 day sail to Rangiroa. If that works out we will have time for a short visit. Then it will be on to Tahiti, a short 2 day sail. So, we are ready!!
Ron

Departure Plans

For this entry I had planned to have an progress report on the first day of my voyage to Tahiti. But as we all know sailing plans are just that, plans, not fact. Instead of bouncing around on the ocean, I am recovering from hernia surgery. This came about just one week before the planned departure date. I guess that is better than one week after the departure. My recovery is proceeding along well. The doctor tells me I could be fit enough to sail by June. So that is the plan, to depart about June 1st with a good weather window. Rather than Rangiroa being my first port call, I intend to sail direct for Papeete to be there by June 30th to meet Judi arriving by B-767. So there's the new plan but one never knows what's coming around the corner. Unfortunately, my able crew I had signed on was unable to delay till June. Unless I get another volunteer, I will sail singlehanded.
Ron