Ted's Log Stardate May 8th, 2008

DAY 11 LATITUDE 30 DEGREES SOUTH, LONGITUDE 164 DEGREES WEST

HI FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC

WE PASSED THE HALF WAY POINT SOMETIME DURING THE 9TH DAY AT SEA AND
CELEBRATED LAST NIGHT WITH FILET MIGNON, SCALLOPED POTATOES, SWEET AND
SOUR CARROTS AND HOME-MADE ICE CREAM.

WE HAVE HAD JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF WIND CONDITIONS ONE CAN EXPECT, 3
DAYS BEATING INTO 30 KNOT WINDS, 3 DAYS RUNNING WITH 10-15 KNOTS, 2
MORE DAYS BEATING THIS TIME WITH 20 KNOTS, 1 DAY BEAM REACHING (WIND
PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOAT) IN 20 KNOTS, AND A DAY PLUS MOTORING IN
VERY LIGHT WINDS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SAILING DOWN-WIND WITH 8 T0 10
KNOTS USING THE SPINNAKER(DOING 5-6 KNOTS). WITH THE EXCEPTION 0F THE
30 KNOT WINDS THE RIDE HAS BEEN RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE.

OUR DESTINATION IS THE ISLAND OF TUBUAI WHICH IS IN THE FRENCH
POLYNESIAN AUSTRAL ISLANDS GROUP. TUBUAI IS A SMALL ISLAND ABOUT 350
MILES SOUTH OF PAPEETE, TAHITI. WILL DESCRIBE IT IN MORE DETAIL WHEN
WE GET THERE.

INFO ON CAPRICE:
AS MENTION BEFORE THE BOAT IS A 38 FOOT CATAMARAN. IT IS A SLOOP
RIGGED BOAT (ONE MAST) AND HAS TWO 30 HORSE POWER DESIEL ENGINES, ONE
IN EACH HULL. THE PORT HULL (LEFT) CONTAINS THE MASTER BEDROOM, A
NAVIGATION STATION AND A HEAD WITH A SPERATE SHOWER. THE OTHER HULL
CONTAINS TWO SMALLER BEDROOMS, A COMPLETE GALLEY AND ANOTHER HEAD.
BOTH HEADS HAVE AN ELECTRIC FLUSH TOILET. THE GALLEY HAS AN UPRIGHT
REFRIGURATOR , A DOUBLE COMPARTMENT FREEZER CHEST, A THREE BURNER
PROPANE STOVE WITH OVEN, AND A BUILT-IN MICROWAVE OVEN. THE BRIDGE
CONNECTING THE HULLS HAS A LARGE LIVING/DINNING ROOM WITH A 360 DEGREE
VIEW. THE COCKPIT HAS TWO STEERING STATION ONE ON EACH SIDE, A CHEST
REFRIDUATOR, A BARBEQUE, AND A LIFE RAFT. THE BOAT HAS TWO 120 WATT
SOLAR PANELS AND A 15 GALLON PER-HOUR FRESH WATER MAKER.

EVEN WITH ALL THESE CONVENIENCES CAPRICE IS A GREAT SAILING VESSEL.

CLOSING FOR NOW, HOPE THIS FINDS YOU ALL WELL

TILL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE

TED