In The Groove

Greetings from 24.01 N 149.26 W. We are now approximately 513 NM from Kaneohe Bay and "trundling along" (as Simon calls it) at 7 to 8 knots.

We had our second whale sighting last evening just before sunset when we encountered a sperm whale cow and calf swimming north across our course. They got within 50 yards of our bow before they spouted one last time and dove beneath us not to be seen again. We prepared for an evening of squalls by peeling to our heavier 1.5oz Pineapple spinnaker from the light air spinnaker we were flying. We gybe'd to port after the peel and prepared for a stormy night. Instead, we were treated to a partially clouded sky with a million stars of all types twinkling in the night sky. The sky show continued with the moon rise that bathed Music in moon beams. A magical night.

At the shift to the mid watch, the retiring port watch reported sighting the lights from three boats, probably fishermen. After a while one of those lights didn't look quite right and we looked at the unknown target through binoculars. Out of the gloom a boat appeared, one mast forward, one big mainsail - no spinnaker. It was our arch nemesis! 'Checkered Past', the Wyle Cat that we have been battling for first and she's slightly behind us! In the dark she passes less than a quarter mile to our stern. We watched, as she made her way south, eventually to disappear over the horizon. The next morning's position reports confirm this. We are still officially in second place, but Checkered Past's lead is now razor thin.

Dawn brought the only squall of the night. We gybe'd again to best run out the storm which brought much rain and wind. Another squall threatened later that morning but we successfully ran that one as it passed to the north. Overnight, Music developed a nagging groaning sound emanating from somewhere in the mast or rigging. So captain John again ascended "Mount Music" to inspect and tighten any loose rigging (and to possibly relive his previous career as rock climber and mountaineer extrodinaire.) The sound appears to be of no consequence and is probably coming from the spinnaker net vibrating and causing a harmonic on the head stay.

Checkered Past made a brief appearance on the horizon in the morning and hasn't been seen since. The trade winds of the morning faded into a gentle breeze by afternoon which also brought on blistering sun and heat to those in the cockpit. Eventually the sun turned behind the spinnaker and brought on the much needed relief and also brought out the ukulele played by Bob and accompanied by Leslie and John D on vocals. Chef Gord prepared a marvelous stirred fried beef and vegetables on rice along with a coleslaw salad.

We are eating dinner in the cockpit, listening to Hawaiian music. Our thoughts turn towards the finish in a few days with it's promise of showers, clean clothes and ice cream and cool drinks. This experience has been wonderful and in a way we don't want it to end, but it also brings out feelings of longing and missing our family and love ones. Hope all is well with you as it is well with Music.

George


Note to Kim,
Saw the notes from Kristi, the Thiemans and the Richard Beans. Tell them thanks for the kind words and can't wait to bore them with all my sea stories.

-Love George