UTC/Local 22:42/14:42
Latitude: 00 33.9 N
Longitude: 129 33.7 W
Conditions:
Today is our 22nd day at sea. We are 52 miles from the equator (the distance from our home in Colfax to the California Department of Education in Sacramento- 1 hour by car in heavy traffic). It will still take us approximately 12 or more hours to reach the equator and no traffic with the exception of flying fish.
We are headed about 215 degrees but our course over ground due to sail slip and current is more like 235. Yesterday, I was one day ahead of myself in reporting a possible morning crossing of the equator. It's hard to keep the days straight particularly when I post in the evening it is already the next day UTC time. We will probably cross the equator just as Garyn and I are changing shifts. Given the time of our crossing, I doubt whether there will be any swimming. But we do have the wonderful bottle of champaign friend and colleague Irv Howard gave to me when I retired on ice and ready to go!
We are also just a little over 800 miles from Hiva Oa. By the time we reach the Marquesas we will need to turn the clock back another 1.5 hours. The Marquesans are kind of inbetween 1-2 hours so they are a half hour set back. We are currently on Alaska 129 longitude time. That's UTC time -8 hours.
Last night once the net was over, we motored all night. Garyn had early watch, Russ second watch, Roz no watch. When we reported to the Pacific Puddle Jump Net at 1500 UTC:, we were still motoring with the wind speed still under 10 knots on our nose. By 1600 UTC, one hour later the wind had shifted a little more to the southeast and filled into 14 knots. There was just enough encouragement for us to put out the jib and cutter. We turned off the motor and have been sailing since 8:00 a.m.with Hydie (hydrovane) at the helm. Lehman (engine) and Ray (auto pilot) are resting.
2255 UTC: We are traveling at 4.8 knots per hour. The wind has been fairly constant 14 knots. The seas have about a 1 meter swell and few white caps. It is 80 degrees out, surprisiingly. We thought it would be warmer. The sun is shining and Russ is grinning from ear to ear because with the sun shining on the solar panels and our water turbine spinning away, we are at 100% battery capacity with amp generation and use, balanced at zero. We just finished listening to Treasure Island. While the engine is on, it is too noisey to listen. Listening to audio books is best done under sail when the only sound is the water swishing past the hull. Our next book is going to be Sea Wolf by Jack London.
0246 UTC April 29, 2010
Russ just got a buzz cut in anticipation of going across the equator tomorrow in the early hours of the morning. He looks really good, 10 years younger. He was beginning to look like the Old Man of the Sea. The sailing conditions today have been absolutely delightful. The sun just set. I'm off to take a nap before my 8:00 p.m. watch.
All is well on Worrall Wind
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