2025-05-15 16:02

< Back to Overview << Prev | Next >>

4/9/2006 1:40:00 AM
1440 miles outside of Hiva Oa
Again slightly south of our project course and between waypoints 1012 and 1013

Day 11 of 25 - Half way there ... at least distanc

DAY 11 of 25 - We made it half way there distance wise ... though it probably is not timewise given that we are expecting lighter winds to come.

We passed the 1462 mile mark . what a number is that you may ask . well our total track as sent in our Day 1 logbook entry was 2925 miles long, so the 1462 milestone marked the halfway point on our passage to the Hiva Oa in the Marquesas. HURRAY!!!!!! So instead of counting now how far outside from Zihuatanejo we are, I will start to talk how far away from the Marquesas our current position is . currently 1443 miles away from landfall . I cannot wait! Unfortunately, today did probably NOT mark the halfway point in terms of time since we have been making such great progress, we have to expect to slow down for the second half of our trip. Nevertheless, at this point we are almost 2 days ahead of our 25 day schedule . not bad for a bunch of 'pollywags' like us . that is a term you will learn more about once we cross the equator and has a long history rooted in the Navy.

SAILING UPDATE

Oh before I forget . NOT . we set another record . OK it was only 1 extra mile but a record is a record and so our daily run for yesterday was 161 miles and we are back in VHF range with the other 3 boats after having a good night in regards to sailing and speed. Comfort is another thing but we are slowly but surely giving up on the idea that the rocking will stop anytime soon until we hit the light wind zone around the equator.

Big decision point is coming up and we think right now that tomorrow evening, right around this time, we are making a turn for the equator . the generic rule is to make the crossing around 130 degrees West but we might drop down a little bit earlier to bargain for a better sailing angle and hopefully a more comfortable sail. This decision is made easier by the fact that we didn't use anywhere as much fuel as we thought we would out from Z town and therefore the thought of motoring a bit longer isn't so bad . they actually charge you import taxes on the diesel you bring in and I don't want to open a gas station in Hiva Oa . right now I still have not even used up all my 60 gallons in my regular tanks and not touched the jerry cans on deck in which I carry an extra 100 gallons . yeah you heard me right, we got six 60l jugs that are sitting in our aft cockpit and on aft railing tied to the radar arch . we don't look like a race boat no more.

BOAT UPDATE

Slowly but surely things are showing signs of fatigue . sailing non-stop for such a long time takes its toll on many things. Therefore I walked around the mast and other areas of the boat today and tightened down screws, especially the gooseneck bracket and the vang attachment bracket. Also, our big jib that has gotten the most use so far, is showing signs of wear . the UV protection cloth has started to rip at the foot of the sail . nothing structural but definitely a sign of the continuous forces at work when you sail for 10 days straight.

FISHING UPDATE

We just put the line in the water for the first time today and BUMM . right when the barbecue was running with 2 steaks on it, the reel started going off . so between holding the reel and watching for our steaks, the steaks got priority and we lost the fish but only after it took out quite a bit of line . that seemed to have been a good size fish but I never got to see it . glad it left the lure behind . must not have hooked right but just nibbled. A good indicator of what to come or just a lucky hit!? We'll keep you posted.

FOOD PLAN OF THE DAY

Breakfast - Oatmeal

Lunch - Prosciutto sandwich . yam yam

Dinner - Steak with parmesan potatoes, peppers and carrots . all still fresh though we are starting to run real low on fresh food by now . yam by the power of yam

HIGH OF THE DAY

Making the half way point was definitely the highlight. I have to say as much as some people say they really enjoy the trip and it is such a fascinating experience to be out at sea for a long time, I am not sure I would do this if it wouldn't be for the islands, people and adventures ahead. The blue of ocean was as great 2 - 3 days out as it is 10 days out, the fishing is no different here then it is just off the coast but then again look who is talking . Mr Fisherman . but the responsibility is dramatically higher out here then it is on a shorter trip. To be honest, I feel you can get the whole sailing experience without doing a 25 day passage. Yes, I did learn a lot about how to tune the boat for different angles of wind, waves and sails but again nothing I couldn't have done in Monterrey Bay if I really wanted to . the waves might have been better coming to think about it . LOL. So all in all, reaching the halfway marker is a great thing for us and we are looking forward to the Marquesas more than ever. I am wondering what the psychology of running a marathon is and if the emotions one goes thru when doing so are any similar to what we are experiencing on this trip!?

Looking ahead, we have a few exciting days in front of us. Within 1-3 days, we will hit what's called the ITCZ (intertropical conversion zone), the area between the Northern and Southern trade winds and known for its unstable weather which also includes squalls and pretty strong rains with wind from all directions. The strategy is to go through the ITCZ as fast as possible and that might mean motoring for a day or two which is OK with us. After crossing the ITCZ, we should reach the equator and that is always a big thing for sailors when crossing the magic 0 line . celebrations are in order and we are all looking forward to it. Word has it that the seas are more stable and less rolly down south. As of now, it seems the Southern trades are not as strong as the Northern trades but at this point a bit of lighter sailing is a welcome thought . ask me again in a week when we are bobbing around . LOL. Don says they are getting better by the day, so maybe we get lucky one more time . keep your fingers crossed.

LOW OF THE DAY

Probably had to be loosing the fish . would have made a great story to catch a fish within an hour of throwing out our lure.

Let me send you an all-around THANK YOU to all the people who are writing us back (especially if you remember to delete our portion) . if it is our closest friends who write almost daily or friends we haven't heard from in years, we cherish them immensely and they lift our spirits when we read them out aloud during the trip and reply during our night shifts. Who is still aboard or have you guys all abandoned ship when it got too rolly . :-)

See . well hear . you again tomorrow,

Robert and crew

TheSchmids Family Sailing on Lawur

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

!!! PLEASE DON'T INCLUDE ORIGINAL WHEN REPLYING TO REDUCE DOWNLOAD TIME !!!

---------- LIST MANAGEMENT ---------- DIGEST - To get a digest version of our postings on a bi-weekly basis, send an email to STServ@TheSchmids.org with the following text in the message body:

Set mode digest EnglishLogbook

UNSUBSCRIBE - Send an email to STServ@TheSchmids.org with the following text in the message body:

Unsubscribe EnglishLogbook



< Back to Overview << Prev | Next >>