Main Menu -> SALTS -> Pacific Odyessy - 2007 Offshore -> Pacific Odyssey - Leg 2 -> July 20th 2007 @ 20:45
Pacific Odyssey - Leg 2
Honolulu to Tahiti - for more information see http://www.salts.ca/010_SALTS_odyssey.htm
tracking Pacific Grace: 38 recorded positions
tracking Pacific Grace: 38 recorded positions
| Last Position: 7°37'59.99 N 147°32'6.00 W on July 20th 2007 @ 20:45 |
Heading 132°
Speed 6.7
Ship's Log:
Last night turned out to be the warmest night so far; quite a few of us had to go on deck sometime during the night to cool off and unstick ourselves from our bedsheets. I thought today might be the
same but it turned out quite pleasant, always hot, but there was a light breeze and we had some shade from the sails. We set up a tarp over the after end of the main gaff and the wheel, and stretched it out to the stanchions; this allows our helmsman and watch officer to
be more comfortable. A 30 minute rain shower this morning kept a
group of about 10 of us cool, cold even. We were soaked through, guys
in board shorts, Gillian in a thin dress, others in a bathing suit with shorts over top. Tavish, Sam and Tristan pulled out a tarp and tried to set it up so water would collect and they could have a decent fresh water rinse. It took at least 3 tries to get enough water just to wash their faces, but the amusement it afforded the rest of us watching from the stern was immeasureable. Arwen and Sam had bucket showers after breakfast and Arwen ran her hand and hair along every rain-soaked surface gathering fresh water with which to rinse. Also amusing to watch. Chase brought a fishing rod and we caught our first fish on it today, a dorado, or mahi mahi. One never tires of seeing this beautifully coloured fish; a body of blue, yellow, and greens with small aqua-blue dots overlayed. Inside was a half digested flying fish and Tav and Chase were able to find the ear bones of the flying fish but not those of the dorado, though they tried and found many other interesting parts. My three boys were fascinated and watched from beginning to end, wanting to dry out the eyes and keep them, feeling the heart continue to pulse, asking what each bit was for; an excellent biology lesson. There was news this morning of a terrific stash party held by about 7 trainees, in the bow, clipped in, late in the evening yesterday. Claire was sleeping underneath where they were partying and said it was hilarious, the things she heard. Roaring laughter from Tristan and Tavish could be heard by the skipper, lying in his bunk below. Skipper held a celestial navigation lesson with 10 senior trainees in which each person took two sights, one morning and one afternoon. Elske reduced their sights for them which provides the information needed for plotting their positions tomorrow. At about 1500 hrs we lowered sail and had another amazing swim stop. Once again we swam in our watches, marvelling and exclaiming at the qualities of the ocean, the colour, the feel, the temperature, the clarity. Jose, Chase, Jeremy and Antony swam under the boat to the other side. Port Watch tried to organize themselves to take underwater pictures of the entire group. Today we were joined by about 4 different types of jellyfish. They stung minimally, like prickles from a haystack. With a mask we were able to take a close up look at them and then look them up in our marine life book. We all felt pretty good, pretty clean, and very refreshed. The hold is very warm and I am amazed at our cooks´ ability to remain below and prepare our meals. My hat is off to them, they do an amazing job. Jordan as well, just continues to work away in his ´office,´ the 55degree Celsuis engine room, patient, enduring, keeping all the systems in excellent running order. I admire the attitude he has toward what he does and why he does it. The motion of the ship is quite stable today, and we were commenting on it this evening. If, though, the boat experienced this motion coastally, it would be considered quite extreme; like anything, it´s all relative. It is a beautiful night, a half-moon, a clear sky, we saw the southern cross early in the evening already, and the big dipper.
People are in tank tops, chatting in smaller groups, some serious,
some not (there is tremendous laughter happening above my head; I
don´t think they are aware I can hear everything they are saying through the open hatch!), people are reading with the use of their headlamps, Karen is reading out loud to the people around the wheel, and there are those getting ready for bed and nightwatch. This will have to be it, I´m way over my quota again, good night, Bonice.
same but it turned out quite pleasant, always hot, but there was a light breeze and we had some shade from the sails. We set up a tarp over the after end of the main gaff and the wheel, and stretched it out to the stanchions; this allows our helmsman and watch officer to
be more comfortable. A 30 minute rain shower this morning kept a
group of about 10 of us cool, cold even. We were soaked through, guys
in board shorts, Gillian in a thin dress, others in a bathing suit with shorts over top. Tavish, Sam and Tristan pulled out a tarp and tried to set it up so water would collect and they could have a decent fresh water rinse. It took at least 3 tries to get enough water just to wash their faces, but the amusement it afforded the rest of us watching from the stern was immeasureable. Arwen and Sam had bucket showers after breakfast and Arwen ran her hand and hair along every rain-soaked surface gathering fresh water with which to rinse. Also amusing to watch. Chase brought a fishing rod and we caught our first fish on it today, a dorado, or mahi mahi. One never tires of seeing this beautifully coloured fish; a body of blue, yellow, and greens with small aqua-blue dots overlayed. Inside was a half digested flying fish and Tav and Chase were able to find the ear bones of the flying fish but not those of the dorado, though they tried and found many other interesting parts. My three boys were fascinated and watched from beginning to end, wanting to dry out the eyes and keep them, feeling the heart continue to pulse, asking what each bit was for; an excellent biology lesson. There was news this morning of a terrific stash party held by about 7 trainees, in the bow, clipped in, late in the evening yesterday. Claire was sleeping underneath where they were partying and said it was hilarious, the things she heard. Roaring laughter from Tristan and Tavish could be heard by the skipper, lying in his bunk below. Skipper held a celestial navigation lesson with 10 senior trainees in which each person took two sights, one morning and one afternoon. Elske reduced their sights for them which provides the information needed for plotting their positions tomorrow. At about 1500 hrs we lowered sail and had another amazing swim stop. Once again we swam in our watches, marvelling and exclaiming at the qualities of the ocean, the colour, the feel, the temperature, the clarity. Jose, Chase, Jeremy and Antony swam under the boat to the other side. Port Watch tried to organize themselves to take underwater pictures of the entire group. Today we were joined by about 4 different types of jellyfish. They stung minimally, like prickles from a haystack. With a mask we were able to take a close up look at them and then look them up in our marine life book. We all felt pretty good, pretty clean, and very refreshed. The hold is very warm and I am amazed at our cooks´ ability to remain below and prepare our meals. My hat is off to them, they do an amazing job. Jordan as well, just continues to work away in his ´office,´ the 55degree Celsuis engine room, patient, enduring, keeping all the systems in excellent running order. I admire the attitude he has toward what he does and why he does it. The motion of the ship is quite stable today, and we were commenting on it this evening. If, though, the boat experienced this motion coastally, it would be considered quite extreme; like anything, it´s all relative. It is a beautiful night, a half-moon, a clear sky, we saw the southern cross early in the evening already, and the big dipper.
People are in tank tops, chatting in smaller groups, some serious,
some not (there is tremendous laughter happening above my head; I
don´t think they are aware I can hear everything they are saying through the open hatch!), people are reading with the use of their headlamps, Karen is reading out loud to the people around the wheel, and there are those getting ready for bed and nightwatch. This will have to be it, I´m way over my quota again, good night, Bonice.
Observations:
mostly sunny skies, some clouds, some rain showers, no wind
Readings:
| Pressure | |
| Wind | |
| Temp | |
| processed: 2007-07-21 14:05:02 |
