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American Spirit II - Day 66; Fast Sailing; Monday, March 10, 2014



Between 4:00 and 5:00 AM Mike saw a Chinese ship on AIS, on our chart plotter. A freighter heading east towards Panama. Surprised any ships traverse these seas in that direction. Not a shipping route. However, the Chinese manage the Panama Canal Zone, so doesn't surprise me one of their ships is heading there from the South Pacific.

Forgot to change the clocks yesterday. Not Daylight Savings for us like home, but we crossed another 15 degrees of longitude, 105 degrees West. So our watches and ships clocks need to be moved one hour earlier. However, for the Net radio sessions amongst all boats, we're keeping to 'Galapagos time' for the whole leg.

We're moving at 7.4 knots over the ground, 6.4 knots thru the water; a 1 knot helping current. Wind 16-19 out of the SE. Solid overcast with lightening skies behind us and heading our way. Waves down and nicely spaced. Waves 8 feet off port quarter.

Every day I get used to trade wind sailing more and more. Lot of boat motion, left and right and up and down. Typing logs and emails a challenge. The boat moves one way and you move another to keep your balance.

At 8:00 AM I did my Isometric Exercises, using a special type of 'bullworker' device. Not an easy thing to do in the cockpit. There is a lot of 'natural' exercise on a boat. With the boat's constant movement, your body is always contracting muscles just to stay seated. Even sleeping in bed can be a 'moving' experience. Rolling from one side to another. You try to wedge your body into a position that minimizes movement. Not easy.

No flying fish on board this morning. Wonder why not.

At 8:45 AM the wind started to lighten. 13 knots to 16 knots. Still making good speed. 6.5 knots. If continues to lighten, will take reef out of main.

Noon position: 6 degrees, 25 minutes South; 110 degree, 3 minutes West. 1,245 miles gone so far; 1,732 miles to go to Hiva Hoa.

Started marinating in spices the last of the blue fin tuna. Sprinkled 'blackened redfish magic' spice on filet's, brushed on olive oil and then added some lime juice.

Wind 18 knots from SE at 3:00 PM. Mike and Joel sleeping down below. We all try to take a one to two hour nap every day before the night time watches, which start formally at 9:00 PM, but actually start right after sunset.

The water maker ran for 3 hours this afternoon making 12-15 gallons of water. Because our hydro generator and wind turbine are working so well, we can make water without turning on the boat's electric generator. Most boats in this Rally can't do that.

Washed 'boat' clothes today, such as dish towels and wash rags, and floor towels. These floor towels are used to mop up water from the shower area and water that gets tracked down the stairs from the cockpit, should it rain. One load, 2 gallons of water to wash and and 2 gallons to rinse. Then the water is pressed out of them in the centrifugal dryer. Then we hang them on a lifeline outside to dry in the sun and wind.

Regarding water usage, the biggest water user on board is washing dishes for breakfast, dinner and coffee throughout the day and evening; and washing your hands frequently. Next are showers, of which we each take one every 2 days. We have enough water on board to shower every day, but its really not necessary. Its also a challenge when the boat's bouncing around the way it is. When there is less wind and more sweat, we'll take showers every day. Boats without water makers, and I believe there is only one in the Rally without one, have to use salt water for bathing. Bummer.

At 3:20 PM we had an AIS contact 17 miles away, a Japanese Fishing boat, 164 feet in length, named Shoeimaru # 1. Fortunately, we didn't come near the ship's nets so we didn't have to change course. We don't know where these nets are, and only find out when a small boat from the larger vessel drives down on us and 'moves' us away. That happened before on our way from Panama to Galapagos. This vessel is probably fishing for tuna.

Dinner tonight was blue fin tuna, cooked carrots and chilled peaches. The reason we had peaches 2 days in a row is because the can they came from is 'family' size and too much to eat in one sitting.

No green flash at sunset. Clouds on horizon. Again.

Winds picked up after dinner, blowing 21-22 knots. However, the wind has moved a little more aft, so the apparent wind is less. The 22 knots feels like 15. Since there is more than half a moon tonight, star gazing is limited. However, seeing the ocean in moonlight is cool, also. We're averaging 7-8 knots of ground speed. That's very fast for a 40 foot boat. At this rate we'll be at Hiva Oa by March 19. Southern Cross visible on port side, aft the beam. I never tire of looking at this constellation because we can't see it in the northern hemisphere north of Cuba.

By 11:00 PM our friend the Tropical Trough has returned. Solid overcast again. Stars and moon gone.

Brian Fox

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