Sailing Again (June 7, 1999)

Family and Friends:

After eight days on port tack, heeling (leaning) from 10 to 20 degrees to starboard, we welcomed a day of motorsailing on flat water. I think that we all have one leg shorter than the other as a result and it's difficult to hold anything vertically. We turned on the engine yesterday afternoon as the wind fell below seven knots and motorsailed through the night. Easy watches and a good night's sleep for all.

The wind piped up just after breakfast and we are now close reaching in a gentle southwest swell at 8.5 knots directly to our waypoint south of Raivavae. It's nice to have the motor off again and quietly glide along, listening to music, with topped up batteries to boot. It is noticeably warmer as I turn on the nav station fan and it tosses months of dust off its blades.

We finished our pancake breakfast in time for the noon fix, which put us at 30 deg. 37 min. South by 153 deg. 05 min. West for a day's run of 173 miles.

The tuna sashimi, sushi and seared fillets made for a great meal last night. Only the sharks had fresher! MaiTai has been in and out of a food coma since yesterday.

It's Sunday, so we're going to take the day off and sail.

Cheers, George, Paula, Phyllis, Steve, Dale and MaiTai