s/v Music Update, Monday, July 21

Today's message from Lesley.
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 10:06 PM

Hi! Here we are out in the open Pacific, about a third from our Hawaiian destination. The nearest land is the Moonless Mountains on the seabed below us, and underwater Mt. McKinley, which I think rises from about 5000 meters below sea level to 2500 meters below. Not much chance of hitting it, I don't think...

We're now at 29'03" North and 138'20" West, and the layers of wool and Goretex we've been wearing constantly are gradually coming off, revealing us in our unwashed state. Most of us have managed to have bit of a wash under the shower bag on the foredeck, and to do some laundry, and socks are flying like pennants from the lifelines. The Bad Hair Contest is temporarily on hold. (I'm disappointed, as think I was winning.)

The colour of the open ocean water is amazing as it breaks alongside the boat, like a gemstone of deep indigo blue. So far we've seen flying fish (hilarious to watch) and an albatross. There were many whales on the first day out of San Francisco, but not one since - though another boat, No Ka Oi, reported during check in today that they had hit one. Fortunately there was no damage to boat or creature, and the whale just gave them a disgusted look and swam away.

Now that the first few days of queasiness or seasickness have passed for all of us, and we are more used to eating, sleeping, changing and moving about in a small box that is tossing around constantly, life on board has settled into a routine of watches, rotating through the days. We are still getting used to sleep deprivation, surviving on an hour or two of sleep at a time. I've found it hard at times, especially when steering in the dark under spinnaker, as so much concentration is needed.

Our cooks, John D and Gordy, have out done themselves on the provisioning, and we're feasting on such things as Italian sausage pasta and salmon burgers. The anticipated tuna dinner hasn't appeared yet, as no fish seems willing to sacrifice itself for our dining pleasure. We live in hope.

The race is a close one in our division, and we're hoping that our competitors to the north fall into the Pacific High, or at least slowed by lighter winds and higher pressure, while we avoid it with our strategy of going farther south. I'm eager to see tomorrow's position reports. We've had a frustrating day or two of occasional lighter winds, as we sail across a ridge of the high, but hope that soon we'll be in the area of blue skies and line squalls.

Love to all,

Lesley