Monthly Archives: September 2024

82 hours into the passage to Marshall Islands

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Should have bought a “trawler” for this passage! Motoring continues, with some mixed motors and sails.

Today was a big day, we changed our sail! The “Iron Jib” has been doing great job keeping us on course and heading the correct direction despite the lack of wind. So was time for a big change. The Iron Jib got a reprieve from pushing us forward. We broke out the “Iron Genoa” the Iron sail on the other side of the boat. They are very similar in the wind range they can support. Some times you can even use them together, for example when trying to go fast or docking and you just need more Umpff! But since we are being conservative and want those Iron sails to last, should we need them for the entire trip, just using one at a time makes more sense, and uses a lot less diesel. So port is getting its turn.

With little wind, and what wind there is is following us, its frigging HOT and sticky ,so today was a good shower day. Cooled off and made me smell less. Feeling proud of my accomplishment, it was time to take a nap.

On the horizon, could it be, something to look forward to? Yes, Happy Happy, Joy Joy.. it is a squall, and a big one at that. Now normally these things wreak havoc with your planned sail route. But today it’s celebrated as something different from the flat clam windless days. I really should have waited for a shower. The adage says, if you take a shower a free one will come your way. Just extra clean.

Here comes excitement

First check radar, it’s a biggie, 6 miles thick, no going around it. Study the gray mass in front of you. Check radar again, yes the radar alarm had already gone off. Do your best to skirt the edge and look for a “less gray” place to cross. Next comes the cool breeze, the 4 knots of wind from behind changes to 22 knots from the front, the calm sea changes to, “Where did all these short choppy waves come from?”. Rain comes from everywhere. Once through the front wall, the winds change from east to west so out comes the actual cavas sail on the other side and sail for an hour or two until the previous no wind condition returns and back ot your normal programming.

All good, boat got a little rinse, some excitement for a bit and it was daylight so easy to see it coming.

This area with the SPCZ and ITCZ zones is notorious for squally condition so we are counting our blessings for the boring passage. Even though we are motoring more than any other time, ever, the comfort level onboard is perfect for catching up on sleep.

Friday, aka another 48 hours from now should be favorable, fingers crossed, for sailing along through the weekend. Assuming the forecast actually comes through.

So we have completed 1/3 of the passage in real rough math, we started with 1300 miles, we made 430 miles, and have around 834 to go, but who is keeping track of those pesky numbers, really. The little guy remembering all those numbers says we have been only averaging a little over 5 knots.

Just before dinner, almost like he wanted to join us, another marlin takes a liking to our offerings. Spectacular water show was displayed by Mr Marlin. So spectacular and skilled he was, even ended his performance with a bow. While taking a bow, he said “pffffft”, your dinner needs to be seasoned and spit his dinner back at us and stormed off. Didn’t even want to hear about the desert menu. I certainly hope he does not leave a bad Yelp review.

International Taco night for dinner, some Chicken Curry wrapped in a tortilla and same with some chicken fajitas. Finished up some left overs.

60 Hours into the passage to the Marshall Islands

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Nothing to report….

Kidding, good day, just no wind. Turned into a project day.. Finished cleaning the teak, being careful not to fall off the boat. Christine tackled the stainless. And a few naps of course. The full stalk of bananas are nicely turning ripe. 100 or so bananas.. luckily (or our t-shirt method) is letting them turn ripe in seconds instead of all at once. And the folklore about not having bananas on boats, its bad luck for fishing.. I present you a marlin and skipjack with bananas on board.

Super hot today, barely any wind, I think it was 2 knots at most. Must be spoiled by spending too much time down in New Zealand.

Middle of the dreaded SPCZ thunderstorm alley..

Checked the water temperature, its nearly 31C (87F) can almost spend all day in the bath water without even getting chilled.

First time flying the drone off the boat while moving. Much more difficult than it sounded in my head. Normally, near land there are reference points to know which direction you are heading. Out here it’s everything is just blue. The up and down of the swell made the retrieval a challenge. Need a better plan before trying it again.

Finally broke the 1000nm to go, so that feels good. Checking the forecast and hoping for a breeze in our future. Sadly it seems the the noise free travel is still a few days away so the sound of the engine continues. How many times per day can I attempt to calculate how much engine time we can use before we run out of diesel? Is it 8 or 9 days? Are we using 3 liters per hour or 2.5? How full were the tanks? Do I trust those gauges? I’ll probably go through those calculations several more times daily till we arrive or the breeze starts and we can turn off the noisy sail.

All well on board, Fish were not interested in our slow lures today. Chicken Fajitas for dinner,.

36 Hours into the passage to the Marshall Islands

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Out there just a “Motor boating” … It’s a sure a pleasant passage so far with the exception of the drone of the engine, but without it we would be bobbing around like the last beer in the cooler on a long hot day just waiting for someone to pick you.

The wind has been as expected light and the water glass smooth. The main sail is still up in hopes of the wind returning.

Ghosting along

First day fishing was pretty good, tho it was catch and release day. One healthy skippy jack tuna, not a favorite, was the first to get interested in one of our offerings. Then just as dinner time was approaching the other line took off, its our small reel with a small lure that I have been dreaming of Mahi Mahi. But alas, the reel was almost spooled before slowing. Lots of spectacular splashing way back from the boat. Lo and behold a blue marlin had picked on the pink Mahi 2000 lure. Took a bit, but was able to bring him in and let him swim off to contemplate chasing small pink lures in his future.

Second day was more fishing than catching. The pink Mahi 2000 saw some activity. With the slow boat speed and glassy water I could see the fish bite and release half a dozen or more times but always just shy of the hook.

Slow going, but still going ..

Hopeful that the wind will return, the forecast did change, the ‘blue hole’ that is ahead of us is getting smaller. For the first time in a while there is no real pressure to “get there” other than mental health before going stir crazy.

Cleaned the teak between naps. Saved some for tomorrow, need to save something for tomorrow or polishing the stainless will become the task to keep the stir crazy from setting in.

Christine’s favorite, Pork Chops for dinner. Just like the executivo from Costa Rica, complete with fried plantains. Yes it’s that calm that stove top frying is a possible.

Still over 1000 miles to go. All good on board, nothing to see just many many shades of blue.