Music 24 Hr Run = 140; CMG = 1767 NM
2100 position 9/16:
38 12.350 N
134 05.493 W
It looked like for a while this morning that the hi was pinching off to the south of us but a little later it opened up again, and about noon the whole thing appeared to be moving due east as fast as we were motoring - again! Fortunately, mid afternoon we started getting little puffs of wind so we set the old 3/4 oz spinnaker and now we have about 7 kts boat speed for about 8 kts apparent wind. We're going to try flying the spinnaker for as long as we can, even into the night.
The best news of all is that just before 9PM, we made our final waypoint before the entrance to SF Bay. Next waypoint is at about mile rock or cliff house - 550M away. Keep your fingers crossed that we can keep moving.
Love,
Me
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
9/15 Report
John is still heading home, motoring through the high pressure area. The next few days will be interesting as the high pressure area re-forms and moves. That affects what his best course should be, but right now it looks like he'll just keep going on his current course.
Music 00:00 09/16
Position: 38 03.787 N 136 43.909 W
Music 1500; 09/15; 24Hr Run = 114; CMG = 1627 NM (noon HST 09/14 - 1500 PDT 09/15)
Note: All future 24 hr runs will be calculated at 1500 PDT.
Music 00:00 09/16
Position: 38 03.787 N 136 43.909 W
Music 1500; 09/15; 24Hr Run = 114; CMG = 1627 NM (noon HST 09/14 - 1500 PDT 09/15)
Note: All future 24 hr runs will be calculated at 1500 PDT.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Hi Everyone - it looks like the battery on the transponder may have quit. So it's back to Google Earth for the tracking. John is less than 800 miles from home and the SSB radio is now picking up California signals so he's definately getting closer. No turning back now.
Music 1200; 09/14; 24 Hr Run = 102; CMG = 1513
HI Dear,
We are still motoring but now our speed is up to between 4.5 and 5 kts, and we are now heading 90 deg, Magnetic (M). I have a couple of good things to report. First, see above (CMG = course made good). Second when we cross longitude 139 deg 40 min, in about 5 miles (at a little after 8PM) we will be 1/2 of the longitude home from Oahu. - Yea to both.
Also want to let you know that because communications (sail mail and weather fax) are now with California, we have changed our clocks to pacific daylight time. Our 24 hour run will be calculated at 3 PM tomorrow from noon today, but that is still only 24 hours as you know. For the rest of the trip our 24 hour runs will be calculated at 3PM to keep things consistent with the beginning of the trip.
I love you
See you soon.
time: 20:20 PDT
current position: 38 09.732 N 139 46.117 W
Sunday, September 14, 2008
HI DEAR!!
Sure glad to be finally making some miles directly for the barn door! We started motor-sailing about 9:45 this morning. What a lift to our spirits, and mine in particular. Now we have something to celebrate. Depending on winds conditions ahead, however, we may still need to head for Monterey Bay so let's hope they're not as bad as they could be, or may be according to Simon. Simon's email last night recommended that we stay south of 37 deg north, or head to 40 north. Well, I decided to head due east from our current position and bail to Monterey if necessary, hoping that by heading east, we might beat the stronger winds expected. Net result? Potentially less than a thousand miles to go. If, that is, we don't have to bail to Monterey. Seemed like worth the risk to me. Sure hope it pays off.
As for our half way celebration, both Steve and I showered, and I even put on a fresh pair of shorts and a clean shirt. IT didn't last long though, as it was cold enough that I went back to the long sleeve tee and long pants I'd been wearing tthe past couple of nights. When it comes to dinner, however, I froze three steaks upon leaving Kaneohe Bay and we pulled them out of the freezer this morning, and will BBQ them. We will also reconstitute some dried shitaki mushrooms and sauté them, and round the meal out with fresh cooked potatoes and carrots. Libations include champagne and, of course, a bottle of merlot.
Considering the miles we've put down and potentially have left to sail, we're calling our shindig our "half way plus" celebration.
Love,
Me. xoxoxoxox
Music 1200: 09/13; 24 Hr Run = 156; CMG = 1411 NM
Position Report
Music: ; 09/14; 00:00
Current location:
38 13.854 N
141 00.990 W
Sure glad to be finally making some miles directly for the barn door! We started motor-sailing about 9:45 this morning. What a lift to our spirits, and mine in particular. Now we have something to celebrate. Depending on winds conditions ahead, however, we may still need to head for Monterey Bay so let's hope they're not as bad as they could be, or may be according to Simon. Simon's email last night recommended that we stay south of 37 deg north, or head to 40 north. Well, I decided to head due east from our current position and bail to Monterey if necessary, hoping that by heading east, we might beat the stronger winds expected. Net result? Potentially less than a thousand miles to go. If, that is, we don't have to bail to Monterey. Seemed like worth the risk to me. Sure hope it pays off.
As for our half way celebration, both Steve and I showered, and I even put on a fresh pair of shorts and a clean shirt. IT didn't last long though, as it was cold enough that I went back to the long sleeve tee and long pants I'd been wearing tthe past couple of nights. When it comes to dinner, however, I froze three steaks upon leaving Kaneohe Bay and we pulled them out of the freezer this morning, and will BBQ them. We will also reconstitute some dried shitaki mushrooms and sauté them, and round the meal out with fresh cooked potatoes and carrots. Libations include champagne and, of course, a bottle of merlot.
Considering the miles we've put down and potentially have left to sail, we're calling our shindig our "half way plus" celebration.
Love,
Me. xoxoxoxox
Music 1200: 09/13; 24 Hr Run = 156; CMG = 1411 NM
Position Report
Music: ; 09/14; 00:00
Current location:
38 13.854 N
141 00.990 W
Saturday, September 13, 2008
9/12 Update
John is planning to start motoring almost due east through the high pressure area. So he re-activated the transponder last night and you can now see his track. Aunt J, Karen, and Tina - John says thanks for all your support. Here's his last update:
Hi,
Not much in the way of news today. Caught another dorado this morning. Our lure was out only about an hour and a half before he hit. It was a clean wound and he was so feisty that we decided to throw him back and proceeded to put our fishing gear away until we're hungry for more fish. (We hadn't put it out since we caught the big one which we finished eating last night.) I believe that today we are half way home, but we're not going to celebrate until tomorrow night when we should be in the high.
We turned on our transponder this evening and I saw the led go on so look for it tomorrow (today by the time you get this). Well, dinner is ready, chicken with a white cream sauce on spaghetti. It's close to my watch now, 2100-00:00, and it's also getting cold out so despite the fact that we are approaching the hi, I have been wearing a fleece vest on under my light fouly jacket the past couple of nights, and will be wearing fleece long-johns under my pants tonight too.
We have seen no ships since leaving Hawaii, but in last 3 hours the AIS has shown us 4 different ships within 10 miles of us, so we must be in the middle of a cross roads for the north pacific shipping. Fortunately, it is almost a full moon and that moon is up most of the night.
We will try to make as little northing as possible for the next few day as we make our way into and through the hi. Wish us luck.
Can't wait to see you. I miss you sooo.
Love,
Me xoxoxoxox
Music 1200; 09/12; 24 Hr Run = 155; CMG = 1255 NM
Position Report
Music: ; 09/12; 2100 Current location:
37 56.482 N (approx equal with the middle of SF Bay!!!!) 144 22.567 W
Hi,
Not much in the way of news today. Caught another dorado this morning. Our lure was out only about an hour and a half before he hit. It was a clean wound and he was so feisty that we decided to throw him back and proceeded to put our fishing gear away until we're hungry for more fish. (We hadn't put it out since we caught the big one which we finished eating last night.) I believe that today we are half way home, but we're not going to celebrate until tomorrow night when we should be in the high.
We turned on our transponder this evening and I saw the led go on so look for it tomorrow (today by the time you get this). Well, dinner is ready, chicken with a white cream sauce on spaghetti. It's close to my watch now, 2100-00:00, and it's also getting cold out so despite the fact that we are approaching the hi, I have been wearing a fleece vest on under my light fouly jacket the past couple of nights, and will be wearing fleece long-johns under my pants tonight too.
We have seen no ships since leaving Hawaii, but in last 3 hours the AIS has shown us 4 different ships within 10 miles of us, so we must be in the middle of a cross roads for the north pacific shipping. Fortunately, it is almost a full moon and that moon is up most of the night.
We will try to make as little northing as possible for the next few day as we make our way into and through the hi. Wish us luck.
Can't wait to see you. I miss you sooo.
Love,
Me xoxoxoxox
Music 1200; 09/12; 24 Hr Run = 155; CMG = 1255 NM
Position Report
Music: ; 09/12; 2100 Current location:
37 56.482 N (approx equal with the middle of SF Bay!!!!) 144 22.567 W
Friday, September 12, 2008
9/11 Update
Position Report
Music: ; 09/11; 2100
Current location:
36 44.789 N
147 27.178 W
Current boat speed: 5.5 - 6.0 kt
Winds: 08 - 12 kt
Heading approximately 050-060 deg magnetic
Same Waypoint: 38 03.677 N 144 11.723 W; distance: 173 NM at 2100 position
Note: we'll probably pass close to our waypoint if winds don't change.
Music: ; 09/11; 2100
Current location:
36 44.789 N
147 27.178 W
Current boat speed: 5.5 - 6.0 kt
Winds: 08 - 12 kt
Heading approximately 050-060 deg magnetic
Same Waypoint: 38 03.677 N 144 11.723 W; distance: 173 NM at 2100 position
Note: we'll probably pass close to our waypoint if winds don't change.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Busy Night / Busy Day
Gail here - John is about 1/3 of the way home. He has about 1,500 miles to go which will take about another 12 days. Right now he is deciding whether to sail further north to go over the high pressure area or start to motor through the middle of it.
Dear,
During my off watch, midnight to 6AM, I got about 4.5 hours of sleep - not bad. But was the boat ever busy! It looks like we picked up an odd assortment of debris while sailing last night. Fortunately we felt no bumps or knocks on the hull. So, what did we get?? To begin my 6-9AM watch with, we got to clear about 4 ft of what looked like old style fishing net from the Duogen propeller. Then, when the sun got higher, I spotted something that looked light blue trailing in the water off the stern. I removed my sunglasses to make sure it wasn't just the effect of my polarized lenses, and yep, it was still there. And, forward of the light blue was a sort of tanish looking line. Hmmm.
Since a breakfast of French toast was just being served, we ate, then went to work preparing for a snorkel dive to check things out and remove the offending whatever. We hove to, and 20 minutes later in my best imitation of James Blond (according to Scott) I was ready to jump in. Less than two and a half minutes later we had about 30 feet of a light weight synthetic net onboard, which is now dried and will come home with us so someone else isn't at risk for snagging it. When did we pick up that net? Last night? The night before? Who knows? Fact is we'll never know.
Yesterday the boat was moving frightfully slow on anything other than a beam reach that sailing was sooo frustrating. It is true the winds were light 8-10 kts apparent, but unknown to us, could this net have been more balled up on the propeller, thereby also contributing to our slow progress? - Possibly! But we'll never know. Fact is it's gone now and the winds up. And, even though we're sailing deep, we're booking at about 6 to 7 kts in 8 to 11 knots of apparent wind.
In the process of cleaning up after my swim, I spotted a 10 inch squid on the port mid deck by the galley port light. In its death the poor squid slimed the entire area with its inky camouflage - Yuk. We got most of it off but some will need to be cleaned dockside.
Early this afternoon the wind clocked aft and for a while the seas were quite confused and washboardy, but then a new wave train started flowing with the wind so by dinner we found ourselves flying along at 7 to 8 knots with the wind slightly aft of the beam. A really sweet ride considering that we are only flying white sails.
With a 2/3rds moon in the eastern sky, our dinner of Mahi Mahi tacos accompanied by a bottle of chardonay was enjoyed by all. The chef? None other than Scott. Not only is he a great sailor, but an awesome cook as well!
Music 1200; 09/10; 24 Hr Run = 133 NM; Course Made Good = 945 NM
Music: 21:00; 09/09
Current location: 35 57.004 N 149 58.151 W
Current boat speed: 7.3 kt, Winds: 12-15
Heading approximately 060-070 deg magnetic
Dear,
During my off watch, midnight to 6AM, I got about 4.5 hours of sleep - not bad. But was the boat ever busy! It looks like we picked up an odd assortment of debris while sailing last night. Fortunately we felt no bumps or knocks on the hull. So, what did we get?? To begin my 6-9AM watch with, we got to clear about 4 ft of what looked like old style fishing net from the Duogen propeller. Then, when the sun got higher, I spotted something that looked light blue trailing in the water off the stern. I removed my sunglasses to make sure it wasn't just the effect of my polarized lenses, and yep, it was still there. And, forward of the light blue was a sort of tanish looking line. Hmmm.
Since a breakfast of French toast was just being served, we ate, then went to work preparing for a snorkel dive to check things out and remove the offending whatever. We hove to, and 20 minutes later in my best imitation of James Blond (according to Scott) I was ready to jump in. Less than two and a half minutes later we had about 30 feet of a light weight synthetic net onboard, which is now dried and will come home with us so someone else isn't at risk for snagging it. When did we pick up that net? Last night? The night before? Who knows? Fact is we'll never know.
Yesterday the boat was moving frightfully slow on anything other than a beam reach that sailing was sooo frustrating. It is true the winds were light 8-10 kts apparent, but unknown to us, could this net have been more balled up on the propeller, thereby also contributing to our slow progress? - Possibly! But we'll never know. Fact is it's gone now and the winds up. And, even though we're sailing deep, we're booking at about 6 to 7 kts in 8 to 11 knots of apparent wind.
In the process of cleaning up after my swim, I spotted a 10 inch squid on the port mid deck by the galley port light. In its death the poor squid slimed the entire area with its inky camouflage - Yuk. We got most of it off but some will need to be cleaned dockside.
Early this afternoon the wind clocked aft and for a while the seas were quite confused and washboardy, but then a new wave train started flowing with the wind so by dinner we found ourselves flying along at 7 to 8 knots with the wind slightly aft of the beam. A really sweet ride considering that we are only flying white sails.
With a 2/3rds moon in the eastern sky, our dinner of Mahi Mahi tacos accompanied by a bottle of chardonay was enjoyed by all. The chef? None other than Scott. Not only is he a great sailor, but an awesome cook as well!
Music 1200; 09/10; 24 Hr Run = 133 NM; Course Made Good = 945 NM
Music: 21:00; 09/09
Current location: 35 57.004 N 149 58.151 W
Current boat speed: 7.3 kt, Winds: 12-15
Heading approximately 060-070 deg magnetic
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