2226UT | 18°31.67N 155°55.47W
Sailing
The last few days have slipped by fast as the trade winds have carried us ever close to Hawaii. Our peaceful bowling along only occasionally disturbed by a squall.
Last night we were bowling along and I was looking at the blue sparkling bioluminescence creaming off the side of the boat when suddenly it started raining and the wind picked up with gusts of 28 knots slamming us hard over. We told Mary there was a squall and she decided we should go straight for 2 reefs in the main. She depowered the sail then hopped up on the coach roof in the now driving rain to clip the handybilly to the reef cringle to make a new tack and smaller sail. Back in the cockpit it was time to winch up the halyard to tighten the luff and then winch reef 2 to secure the foot of the sail. There are two ways to grind a winch: turning it clockwise is hard but a higher gear so does the job faster, the other way is easier but a long slow grind. Meanwhile it’s difficult to get a good foothold on the wet lurching boat and you’re in a confined space. Last night (if I say so myself) Emily and I nailed the teamwork of winch grinding. Using the longer handle, she perched on the upper side and I took the lower (according to our respective heights) and together we turned those winches the hard and fast way. Girl Power!
Meanwhile Bruce held the boat on its course throughout and in the morning we could see that our mascot Scooby the Booby Bird had also clung on to its perch. Hawaii is less than 250miles to go.
Sarah Talbot
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Among the Channel Islands
In the wind shadow of SoCal we had a restful night with calm conditions ghosting through smooth seas. We’re getting ourselves in position for spicy weather tonight once we round Cape Conception, the seas build and the breeze freshens. It will be an upwind sail into an acceleration zone along a formable coast with few bailout points, Morro Bay being one. The crew is really gelling with lots of smiles and laughter on deck. Monterey is in our sights!
Day Two Delights
The seas were completely glassy with a gentle swell as we approached San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands. Everyone jumped in and marvelled at the lovely temperature and crystal clear, indigo-colored water. Before long the wind started to pick up, and we happily unfurled the jib and were sailing again. The afternoon has been gorgeous, cruising along at 5-6 kts, close hauled on a port tack in a gentle breeze, Catalina Island in the distance on our starboard side, and everyone is happy.
Adios Ensenada!
Around 9am this morning, we slipped lines and made our way out of Todos Los Santos Bay with a pre-arranged escort pod of dolphins. After a few hours of motoring through very calm, very blue, very kelpy seas, we clicked the engine off and off we went. After some delicious frittata and not-new potatoes a-la Adam, we executed our first of many tacks. With only 5-10 kts of wind, our close haul has been nothing but pleasant so far. After a lovely week in Ensenada for me, Alex, and Adam, we’re stoked to finally head out and begin our upwind journey back up the coast.