Ted's Log Stardate July 2, 2008

MESSAGE 14 2 JULY LATITUDE: 14 DEGREES NORTH LONGITUDE: 153
DEGREES WEST

DAY 15

HOWDY ALL

TWO THINGS IN THE LAST MESSAGE THAT I FAILED TO MENTION WHEN DISCUSSING THE EQUATOR CROSSING. FIRST--IN ADDITION TO GIVING NEPTUNE FOOD (SPAM) AND DRINK (WINE), CAROL DONATED HER BREAD-MAKER WHICH FAILED TO RECUPERATE FROM THE DAMAGE THAT IT RECEIVED DURING IT'S FLIGHT TO AUKLAND. HOPEFULLY NEPTUNE CAN FIX IT AND PUT IT TO GOOD USE.
SECOND--WE PUT A MESSAGE IN A WINE BOTTLE (EMPTY) WITH OUR NAMES AND EMAIL ADDRESSES IN IT AND TOSSED IT OVERBOARD.

AFTER CROSSING THE EQUATOR AND TURNING NORTHWEST TOWARD HAWAII, UNDER THE SPINNAKER ALONE, IN 10 TO 15 KNOTS OF WIND OVER THE STERN AND FOLLOWING SEAS, I EXPERIENCED THE BEST TWO DAYS OF SAILING EVER. IN 48 HOURS WE LOGGED OVER 300 MILES. SMOOTH AND FAST!!

HOWEVER ON THE THIRD DAY WE ENTERED THE DREADED INTER TROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE (ITCZ) WHICH IS THE AREA SEPARATING THE SOUTHEAST TRADE WINDS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE FROM THE NORTHEAST TRADES IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS ZONE CAN HAVE WEATHER RANGING FROM DEAD CALM (DOLDRUMS) TO SEVERE SQUALLS AND THUNDERSTORMS. ITS DISTANCE ACROSS CAN BE AS MUCH AS 600 MILES TO LESS THAN 60. IN OUR CASE WE HAD NO WIND AND ONLY TWO SMALL SQUALLS DURING THE 39 HOURS IT TOOK US TO MOTOR THROUGH 120 MILES OF THE ZONE.

DURING OUR TIME IN THE DOLDRUMS DAN DID MANAGE TO LAND A FUNNY LOOKING SQUID AND A LONG SKINNY BARRACUDA IN A SEA OF GARBAGE THAT PROBABLY HAD BEEN RECENTLY DUMPED BY A PASSING SHIP. BOTH WERE RELEASED BACK IN TO THE DUMP. DAN DID MANAGE TO LAND A TUNA LATER IN MUCH CLEANER WATERS WHICH CAROL MADE 6 MEALS FROM (4 DINNERS AND TWO LUNCHES). ON THE 27TH WE CELEBRATED DAN AND CAROL'S 45TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AND CROSSING THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE PASSAGE WITH OUR LAST BOTTLE OF WINE.

AFTER ESCAPING THE ITCZ WE PICKED UP THE NORTHEAST TRADES AND HAVE BEEN MAKING EXCELLENT TIME IN 10-18 KNOTS OF WIND. AS OF 1000 HRS TODAY WE ARE 514 MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION AND WE SHOULD BE THERE BY SUNDAY.

I HAVE HAD MANY PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT DO YOU DO TO PASS THE TIME ON THAT SMALL MOVING PLASTIC ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA. WELL, THE THREE THINGS THAT TAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF OUR TIME ARE SLEEPING, READING AND STANDING WATCHES (IN CAROL'S CASE, AKA ADMIRAL COOKIE, PREPARING THREE MEALS A DAY FOR 4 PEOPLE). THE WATCH PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THE BOAT IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THAT THE SAILS ARE TRIMMED, DETERMINING WHEN TO REEF/UN-REEF THE SAILS, CALLING UP HELP IF THE SITUATION SO DICTATES, AND MOST IMPORTANT MAKE SURE THE BOAT DOESN'T RUN IN TO ANYTHING. THE WATCH SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED GOES LIKE THIS: I COME ON AT 2100 HRS, DAN AT MIDNIGHT AND TOM AT 0300 HOURS, I COME BACK ON AT 0600 HRS AND STAY UNTIL 1100 HRS, DAN NEXT AND TOM IS ON FROM 1600 TO 2100 HRS. THIS SCHEDULE WORKS WELL FOR ALL OF US. OTHER THINGS THAT OCCUPY OUR TIME INCLUDE PLAYING CARDS, TELLING TALL TAILS AND JOKES, EATING, WATCHING MOVIES, WRITING LOGS, FIXING THINGS THAT BREAK, MAINTAINING THINGS THAT NEED ATTENTION AND FINALLY JUST ENJOYING THE SAILING: THE WIND AND THE SEA, BEAUTIFUL SUNRISES AND SUNSETS, AND EXTREMELY CLEAR STARRY SKIES (A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO WE SAW BOTH THE SOUTHERN CROSS AND THE BIG DIPPER IN THE SAME SKY). WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME!

TILL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE

TED