Day 16

Date: 08/30      
Noon to noon run: 88NM
Time of position: 6PM
Lat/Lon: 46 57.55'N   146 42.43'W
Course: 070 deg Mag
Current Speed: 7.0
Next Waypoint: 47 00.000 N  140 45.000 W
                           Range: 234NM

After being becalmed since sunrise yesterday, a breeze started filling in from the SW about 9PM local time and has been picking up ever since. Now we are scooting along at about 7-8 Kt under full main and genoa, but the time ahs come to reef the main and furl the genoa, especially since there is a very real promise of more wind than we want. A low is forecast to pass over our area in the next 2 days that we have been preparing for. We should be fine with increased reefs in the main and a handkerchief of a genoa. Even so, we need to make all due haste getting east as another low is out there heading our direction, even though it is several days away.

Day 15

Time of position: 08/29; 04:00
Lat/Lon: 46 37.34N  150 22.44W
Course: 030 deg Mag
Current Speed: 5.4
          VMG: 5.4
Next Waypoint: RTWG-4: 47N 150W
        Range: 27NM & closing

Remaining WPS: RTWG 5: 47 45N; 145 00W

                          Cape Flattery
Synopsis: We've used as much fuel as we dare getting north and for several hours after shutting the engine down the breeze was barely a whisper. It filled in on my midnight to 3AM watch, however, and grew to a steady 10-12Kt allowing us to make excellent boat speed. Consequently, we are finally making good progress under sail, and the best part of it is that we are heading a direction we want to go. That said, we have some unpleasantness coming down on us in the form of a low that should arrive in about 36-48 hours more or less. Even after we make our next waypoint (above) we still have 1016NM to go to reach Cape Flattery.

Cheers, John

Day 14

Date: 08/25      
Noon to noon run: 119NM
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 44 19.15'N deg 153 deg 10.66'W
Course: 031 deg Mag    
Current Speed: 4-5kt
Next Waypoint: 47 00N; 150 00W
             210 NM distance
            
Synopsis: It has been gray since yesterday and getting colder. A good reminder that we are indeed getting north. We had sushi again today and still have frozen tuna but will not be eating anymore fresh unless we catch another one. WE have started our turn for Cape Flattery, but still have more north to make as you can see by our next waypoint. But we are getting closer.

Day 13

Date: 08/26      
Actual Miles Motored: too many
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 42 34.42'N deg 154 deg 13.16'W
Course: 353 deg Mag
Current Speed: 5.4
Next Waypoint: 45N; 154W
             145 NM distance

            

Synopsis: We had dolphins off the bow this morning just after dawn and again this evening, in fact just a few moments ago - always a good omen. In between we had pancakes by Dick for breakfast, and appetizers by Scott. For dinner we are having seared Ahi by Scott who has grown back into his Sea Chef legs of 4 years ago.  Yesterday we caught a bonito and with that added to our dinner meals by 2 days.

But the best part of the last 24 hours is the mileage we've made north. We've been motoring and burning fuel, but at the present it is the best way to get north.

We thought that at our next waypoiont (noted above) we would be able to turn toward Cape Flattery, but our weather router has given us another waypoint to steer to after we reach our current waypoint, and it is even further north (47N; 150W).

Does this make sense? - Actually it does, because the winds have been out of due north for days and the best thing we can do is make sure we can make Cape Flattery after we turn. And, that is what our weather router is doing for us.

All of this adds miles of course, so while I would like to believe we are half way, we are not quite yet there, at least by miles. But, with a little luck after we make the turns we will be able to put some serious miles under our keel and head for the barn, as it were.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed that in a couple of days we will be heading for the destination we've been working for.

Cheers, John

Day 12

Time of position: 08/26; 06:00
Lat/Lon: 41 29.58'N deg 154 deg 34.24'W
Course: 357 deg Mag approx (Motoring/motorsailing/ sometimes sailing) Current Speed: 5.6, VMG: 5.5

Next Waypoint: RTWG 3 at: 45 00N; 154 00W

        Range: 210NM & closing

The seas have moderated and the wind has cooperated, coming from a direction more favorable to motorsailing under main alone, on at least not interfering with our forward progress, so we've made good speed throughout the night.  Yesterday we caught a tuna.  Fresh sashimi for lunch was a joy, especially prepared by Scott, who has once again claimed the title of Sea Chef.

Day 11

Date: 08/25      
Noon to noon run: 91NM (Course Made Good)
Actual Miles Sailed: still too many
Time of position: 3AM
Lat/Lon: 39 21.81'N deg 155 deg 08.12'W
Course: 356 deg Mag
Current Speed: 4.0-4.4
Next Waypoint: 40N  155W
            38 NM distance

Synopsis: We headed off the wind this morning to the NW for about 3 hours until the wind dropped and swell resided. Then resumed motoring to our new mark set by Rick, the weather guy as noted above. As we headed back north, we replaced the jib halyard with a wing halyard because of chafe. Not to worry, the line was over 10 years old, and had started making a lot of stress noise over the past couple of days. I also ascended the mast with Scott manning the halyard in order to check the sheave for the jib and lube it. By the time we were done with those projects it was about noon, and the seas have been relatively quiet and the wind light but on our nose, slowing our progress. Nevertheless we are making progress, albeit slowly. Sure would be nice to get a break with the wind angle.

We are heading north and that is good, but we still have a long way to get north as we are only nearing the town of Mendecino, south of the California-Oregon border (42N) and we are spending fuel. Then we still have to make a very long way east before we arrive off of Cape Flattery.

Day 10

Date: 08/23
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 37 19.00'N deg 155 deg 33.96'W
Course: 350 deg Mag
Current Speed: 5Kt
New Waypoint: 40 00N; 153 .00W
              200NM distance

Synopsis: The last couple of days were spent dealing with a low we were trying to get east of in order to take advantage of a trough that would carry us north, but with a couple of tacks and a bunch of broken eggs, we did not get far enough east to make use of it. So, this morning at Oh-dark-thirty we headed north again, and shortly abandoned our plan - Oh well. Such is life at sea. I guess the good news is that we started from about 158W and turned north in earnest again at 155 14W and that is a huge difference from 158 from where we started.

Some of the Un-fun things over the past few days include scrambling a few dozen eggs on the cabin sole (floor) when the cabinet drawer they were in  jumped out of it's rack to the floor shortly after we tacked from starbord to port. What A Mess!!

We took time to thoroughly cleaned it up (lots of paper towels, water, and bleach) to prevent salmonella germs from cultivating. Then later that night I inadvertently stepped on a protrusion from a wall at foot level, lifting the toe nail on the fourth toe of my left foot - Ouch!! We also discovered the source of a loud bang we had heard in the middle of the night, and dealt with it.

Dick has been great helping with repairs and maintenance and has added a lot of his personal nautical touches to Music. For example, he wove a couple of pads that our block for the running blocks rest on when not is use, instead of just sitting on the deck. He also laced a bunch of pull tabs together out of light line for to be attached to all the pull pins we have on board - things like the pull pins to open the gates through of life lines, and on various snap shackles, etc.

This evening the wind is but a breeze and we are enjoying a well deserved dinner and gorgeous sunset in quiet stillness as we slowly head north.

Cheers, John

Day 9

Date: 08/22
 
Lat/Lon: 36 24.36'N deg 156 deg 07.27'W
Course: 110 deg Mag
Current Speed:5.5kt
Current Wind: NE (our observation); Grib: 058-060
              Apparent wind: 17Kt @ 30 deg port
Next Waypoint: Temporary Waypoint at: 38 14N; 150 .00W
              309NM distance

At present we are doing our best to head east. We sacrificed north because we were heading 300 deg magnetic and ultimately moving toward a hi in the central Pacific. Grib files look like this low will last another 24hr, maybe less, and weaken. We will turn north as the wind allows, but for the moment we are really going to try not to head NW again.

Day 8

Date: 08/21
Noon to noon run: 80NM (Course Made Good) Actual Miles Sailed: 120
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 35 56.68'N deg 157 deg 30.34'W
Course:
Current Speed:
Next Waypoint: Temporary Waypoint at: 38 14N; 150 00W
                    384NM distance

Synopsis: Our winds yesterday were east of north so we were making a heading of about 340M (degrees magnetic) on a starboard tack close hauled in light air. Unfortunately, we kept getting headed as night came on and progressed.

About midnight we tacked to port after over an hour of making a heading of only about 280M. Upoon tacking, we were making 030M but the winds grew lighter and more fluky, and by 6AM we were heading 080M in 3kt of breeze. With that we started the engine and were able to get to about 030M which we kept until noon when I received an email from my weather guru friend, Simon. After reviewing all the info in his email, we cracked off and headed about 055 toward a new temporary waypoint we established as noted above.

We are now back in about 12Kt of wind (while according to the grib files it should be about 6Kt) and going into night we again have a double reef in the main and furled genoa to 100% and can only hold about 60 degrees to the wind without pounding as the swell and wave have increased as well. This means ultimately give us a course over ground (COG) of about 80 degrees with leeway. So, we continue to claw our way north.

Cheers, John

Day 7

Date: 08/20

Noon to noon run: NM
Time of position: 20:00
Lat/Lon: 34 51.33'N deg 158 deg 39.15'W
Course: 305 - 320 deg Mag
Current Speed: 5.0 - 5.5
Next Waypoint: 39 deg 00.00'N; 156 deg 00.00'W
                   Mid North Pacific, North and slightly east of Oahu
                   328 NM distance

Synopsis: We sailed into a mini hi pressure zone late yesterday afternoon, but that's Ok because we were running the engine to make water anyway, which meant we were motoring anyway. Taking advantage of that we headed about 20-30 degrees magnetic and motored all night in light to nonexistent winds. Sometime between midnight and 3AM we entered a small low pressure zone that we finally exited about 6AM this morning. But not before a couple of rain showers which rinsed the boat nicely.

The 48 and 96 hour surface forecasts look much better today than they had in a few days, meaning that both highs and their associated winds appear much more favorable for when we should be in passing through the area. That said we will always keep a close eye on the ever changing conditions while out here. In the mean time we continue to make our way north, sometimes slightly east of north, sometimes due north, and sometimes, like now, even slightly west of north. The main thing is to keep moving north and not get sucked into the idea of heading toward the coast too early. What's at risk in heading east is when (not if) the high establishes itself off the coast we would have no choice but to make landfall near what ever latitude we could and beat our way up the coast. - Oh Boy!

I forgot to mention a couple of days ago that Dick made brownies. We kidded him about being Canadian and with the decriminalization of pot north of the 49th parallel they should be Alice B Tokalas (sp?) brownies. But, of course, they weren't. What they were - was delicious!

Cheers, John

Day 6

One thing I'd like to clarify is that when John says things might get ugly - that doesn't mean any bad weather is coming.  It means they might have to sail into the Pacific High weather which means they could have a few days of very light wind.  And to a sailor - that is ugly. 

Date: 08/19
Noon to noon run: 112NM
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 33 deg 00.77'N deg 158 deg 39.76'W
Course: 350 deg Mag
Current Speed:
Next Waypoint: 40 deg 00.00'N; 156 deg 00.00'W
                   Mid North Pacific, north and slightly east of Oahu
                         On the north side of the Hi's current position
                   NM distance

Synopsis: The wind has grown so light that it appears we are heading into the High, and visually the seas and sky match. I just downloaded a GOES IR satellite photo that seems to concur with where we currently are in relation to the High we are concerned with. That said, according to the grib files we are on the eastern edge of one High and the western edge of another. And, if I thought the 96 hour forecast looked grim yesterday, it looks even worse for where we expect to be 4 days from now. If so, then this could be a very long trip if the current 96 hour forecast bears out. I don't think it will however, but that remains to be seen, so cross your fingers for us that we get some favorable wind but not too much.

Day 5

Date: 08/14
Noon to noon run: 128NM
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 31 13.82'N deg 158 deg 15.24'W
Course: 340 deg Mag
Current Speed:5.0                        
Next Waypoint:    32 deg 59.00'N; 157 deg 43.00'W
            Mid North Pacific, due North of Oahu
                  100 NM distance (based on our 7PM position)

Synopsis: Our winds and waves continue to keep us sailing somewhere between close hauled and close reach, and while the winds are moderate (about 15Kt) for the most part they vacillate as low as 8Kt and up to 20kt. Even though it seems like we are crawling our way north against wind and wave, at 8AM this morning we were 520NM north of the northern most point of Oahu, so progress is being made and we are getting closer to the "Hi" (a high pressure zone that dominates the northeast Pacific this time of year). Currently it is due north of Hawaii having been pushed west by a low pressure system off the northern California Coast. When we reach the Hi we will either have to motor through or sail around it. Thankfully the 96 hour forecast keeps changing because if it does not, in terms of light to contrary to nonexistent winds, things could really be ugly for us in about 3 or 4 days.

Cheers, John

Day 4

Date: 08/17

Noon to noon run: 116NM
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 29 08.74'N deg 158 deg 11.85'W
Course: 360 deg Mag
Current Speed: 6kt
Next Waypoint: 32 deg 59.00'N; 157 deg 43.00'W
               Mid North Pacific, due North of Oahu
              207 NM distance

            

Synopsis:

At about 10:15 this morning we finally passed the turn-a-round spot from our first delivery attempt in 2008. - Yea! At 430Nm north of Oahu, that was a painful return.

The squalls never developed last night and in fact we spent most of the night sailing painfully slow. When I came on watch at 3AM. The first thing Dick and I did was take the main sail from second to first reef. Then, over the course of my watch I sequentially unfurled the genoa to its full 130% size and shook out the main sail's first reef as well long before sunrise. Unfortunately, throughout my watch the wind grew lighter and lighter, so much so that by the end of my watch I was struggling to keep Music moving at all.

Yesterday one of my crew observed, "What does it matter if we arrive a day later?" In answer, my philosophy is, and always has been, to sail as efficiently and as fast as possible without unduly working the boat hard or pounding. When I was mountaineering I learned to spend as little time as necessary under objective hazards, as the more time you spend among objective hazards the more likely you are to get your butt spanked. Applying this to an ocean crossing I believe that you should spend as little time as necessary on the ocean to get across it. While I am not afraid of being on the ocean, the more time you spend out there the greater your chances (on any one given crossing) that you will encounter some real nastiness. Besides, I never met a sailor who complained the crossing was too fast or said, "Boy, I wish we spent a few more days out there!"

Cheers,

John

Day 3

Date: 08/16

Noon to noon run: 137NM
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 27 13.10'N deg 158 deg 16.74'W
Course: 360 deg Mag
Current Speed:about 5Kt
Next Waypoint: 32 deg 59.00'N; 157 deg 43.00'W
                   Mid North Pacific, due North of Oahu
                    346NM distance

Synopsis: With an overcast sky and no moon, last night was black indeed. With winds still way forward of the beam we passed through several squalls, but they were bigger than the normal squalls which usually accompany the tropic trade winds. It was more like passing through a low pressure zone and I could not help but wonder if we were dealing with some cast-off weather from the latest hurricane making it's way along the Mexican coast to Baja.

Tonight is shaping up much the same so our main is double reefed again by crew consensus,and our genoa is furled to about 100% genoa. (For the non-sailors reading this a 100% genoa means it extends from the forestay back to the mast.) While this means slow progress it also means no drama during the night.

Cheers,

John

Day 2

Date: 08/15

Noon to noon run: 154NM
Time of position: 18:00
Lat/Lon: 24.59'N deg 158 deg 35.98'W
Course: 300 deg Mag
Current Speed: about 6kt,
Next Waypoint: 32 deg 59.00'N; 157 deg 43.00'W
                   Mid North Pacific, due North of Oahu          
                   480NM distance
        

Synopsis: We are moving well away from the islands with a good initial 24 hour run as noted above. The seas and winds have moderated a bit (from 20-25kt and 8 to 10ft to about 15kt and 4ft), but the direction of the wind at this point is causing us to sail from close hauled to close reach and we are still not able to maintain a heading of due north. At least the boat is not pounding like it was yesterday.

At about 7PM we passed some 49 nautical miles west of the "turn around" spot of our second delivery attempt back in 2008. The cause of our turning around was a crew medical emergency. (One of my crew, not Scott, had developed a staph infection in his right knee.) While it is nice to have that behind us we still have one more turn around spot from 2008, and that one is still some distance ahead. I'll be glad when both are well behind us.

Cheers, John

Washington Bound

Hi All - John is now on his way heading home to Bellingham, WA.  The trip should take 16-20 days so he should get here around the end of August or early Sept.  I have been in Bellingham for a few weeks getting ready to move into our house.

Date: 08/14

Time of position: 19:00
Lat/Lon: 22 31.36'N deg 158 deg 32.95'W
Course: 340 deg
Bearing to waypoint: 353
Current Speed: 7.0-7.5kt
Next Waypoint: 32 deg 59.00'N; 157 deg 43.00'W
                   Mid North Pacific, due North of Oahu
                   622NM distance

Synopsis:  Onboard for this passage are Richard (Dick) Towson and Scott Saulovich. We met Dick and his wife, Anne, at Santa Catalina while on our way to San Diego in October of 2012. They have a lovely sailboat named Full & By. Scott was with me when September of 2008 when we sailed Music back to Alameda, CA from Oahu, after the Pacific Cup race.

We cleared the channel to Ko Olina marina, just north of Barber's Point, Oahu, at about 7AM Hawaii time this morning. By 10:30 were abeam of Oahu's western most point. Eight nautical miles later we cleared the island completely.

By about 4PM we passed Kauai's north coast, with it being about 70NM leeward of us. With that, for all practical purposes we are now north of the major Hawaiian Islands. Let's hope we keep it that way.

The course I've plotted is 2500NM in length and starts near the Ko Olina Marina and ends near Cape Flattery WA, near the entrance to the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Once in the straits we still have some distance to go to get to Bellingham.