Gone Sailing / Maintaining - Issue 8
Another day sails by with a respectable 180 nautical miles covered in the past 24 hours. We have completed 1265 nautical miles of the 1885 mile trip and are maintaining consistent speeds so the finish line is becoming a more discussed topic.
We have some decisions to make about which route to take around New Caledonia, Noumea. The lead boat, "Tevake 2" is enroute to leave New Cal to starboard meaning it is going around the northern end and then across to Vanuatu. The other options are to leave New Cal to port and either slip through the pass between the main island and The Isle Of Pines, or leave them all to port then shoot north east to Vanuatu. The passage between Isle of Pines and main island of New Cal looks the most scenic but more reading and research will have to be done before we understand the tides and currents. There would be nothing worse than parking in there for a few days no matter how scenic it may be!
Once we clear New Cal it is about 260 nautical miles to the finish.
Contrary to the forecast, the breeze has swung more south for us allowing us to crack sheets a bit more and enjoy some fast beam reaching with the number 2 headsail. Unfortunately we have had to keep a roll / reef in the main-sail since our outhaul issue the other night, the roll taking the load off the fitting and acting as insurance it wont come away again. We are still maintaining an average of 8-9 knots boat speeds which is a happy thing in these conditions and we have clawed back at a few of the other boats which is exciting.
Last night was a sloppy sea state but it seems to have abated a bit this morning and we are enjoying riding the long, wide rolling ocean swells.
Two lure's trailing out the back still in search of Mahe Mahe, we would even settle for a tuna today. We passed 3 floating bouys this morning which we think may be long line fishing nets - seems a long way in the middle of nowhere for these but no real other explanation could be made. Unless they are drug drops ready for a ship to pick up?.. We are fortunate we did not catch one on our keel or rudder as we scooted past it early this morning, sharks or drugs hanging off the end - neither do we need not to mention the hassle of unhooking it!
The Tucker:
"Easy Foods" lamb shanks has had rave reviews from all the crew since they were served with mash potato, carrots, corn topped with rosemary and red wine sauce last night. Well done Mike and Stoopman - this has been a real highlight and the effort to serving it up while walking on walls outstanding!
Notable moments:
The remaining smelly people treated themselves to showers this morning and more undy ceremonies performed.
Crew member number 4 did number 2's which resulted in an emergency evacuation of the saloon - sadly our canary who was left inside perished!
Right here right now:
Rick in saloon in quarter berth enjoying his new found love of reading, Jesse in the galley washing up the brunch dishes, oh and Rick has just jumped to his assistance, Nick steering, Mike in cockpit reading, Stoops, James and Leon all catching zzz's.
Leon has again been continually maintaining the good ship, he has fixed the leaking windows so we are now not taking on buckets of water, the HF radio has been pulled apart repaired and reset so we are now transmitting and receiving on cue rather than randomly, he had the sail repair kit out yesterday and re-sewed a tear in the number 2 headsail. Champion effort!
That's about it for today, we are all settled in as we will be on this heading for about the next 40 hours or so. Let's hope the wind god
(Huey) stays happy and keeps spitting the 15-22 knots of breeze on the beam for us so we can continue to maintain this speed. Not only because it is a more comfortable bouncy castle like this but it is making my estimated arrival time looking pretty good! I better start talking up the prize for the winning bid!
Signing off on behalf on the Samskara Crew, The Ships Cat.
Today's unfinished Crew Song (sung to tune of Hotel California)
On a dark pacific ocean
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of lasagne
rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw the New Caledonia light
We hope the breeze stays in
and we don't park for the night
Welcome to the hotel Samskara
Such a lovely boat (such a lovely boat)
It's a fridge afloat (it's afloat)
Plenty of room at the hotel Samskara
You will find rum here, also wine and beer..
the remaining lyrics to be censored and continued...
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