A Lazy Day in the South Pacific High

Family and Friends:

For ten days, we didn't see any other sign of human life out here. No ships, no yachts, no jets, no contrails, no satellites, not even any discarded trash. Today, while gently sailing along, Paula spotted an old glass Japanese fishing net float. After a couple piss-poor crew overboard recovery attempts Steve managed to get a boat hook through the macrame surrounding the green glass ball.

This little gem contained an entire ecosystem of shellfish, crabs, algae and who knows what else. MaiTai stared at it for hours, checking out all the little creepy crawly things and playing with one of the little crabs. The ball is hand blown glass and where the ball was sealed, there are a couple of Japanese characters. We've heard that these things haven't been made in 40 or 50 years, but if any of you out there have any information, let us know.

The low pressure area came by us yesterday afternoon, kicking up the wind and seas. For awhile, we were close reaching with just staysail and reefed main, doing nine to ten knots. The wind gradually decreased and we are now gently moving along at 5.5 knots in 8 knots of wind with a full main and the shithouse door (spinnaker).

We made a 24-hour run of 184 miles and our noon position was 28 deg. 24 min. South by 150 deg. 38 min West about 347 miles south-southwest of Raivavae. We noticed a big bump when we crossed the fold in the middle of the chart.

It's been a pretty lazy day. Paula reorganized her CD collection. Steve was playing with a passage planning program on the computer. Phyllis was reading a novel and is carefully dog-earing the "good parts" for the rest of us. Dale is playing with the electronic toys and I made tuna jerky and sorted out a clog in one of the fuel lines. And, of course, we took a mid-afternoon iced cappuccino break.

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