Malolo - Log Day 6 – The Butter has Melted

Somewhere out here in this endless blue sea is the mid-point of our voyage. We calculate in time and in miles and debate how you can know when you are halfway when you can’t know the exact length of your trip. In any event, as the title suggests, the butter has truly melted and we are flying along in the trades. Life onboard Malolo has settled into familiar routines. We are six on board and divided our watches in two. The first half of the race has had its challenges with plenty of breeze and a number of tactical decisions to be made. Mostly good sailing and adapting to life at sea. In the first 6 days we’ve had to stop or slow the boat 4 times, twice to clear debris from our rudder, once to repair chafing to our mainsail, and once to clear Sargassum. There’s the usual housekeeping and boatkeeping tasks and a lot of just driving the boat fast downwind.
Malolo in Hawaiian means “flying fish” and there could never have been a more aptly named fish. They are everywhere, taking flight and landing onboard in some unusual and surprising places (including crew Nige’s bed). Nige emerging from his cabin with a flapping fish missile made for an interesting entrance on deck.
So at the halfway point we are going nicely and maintaining a lead on a chasing fleet. We are in good spirits, mostly eating well, and tolerating each other’s company. You might even say we’re having fun. Which, after all, is the point of the whole thing.

Tom Kassberg