| DREAMCATCHER VOYAGE Journal 11- Daily Log of Pacific Crossing |
DREAMCATCHER DAILY LOG of PACIFIC CROSSING
A short log about a long passage. These daily notes outline our conditions and
activities during those 25 days at sea – they are by no means the official log of
the vessel, which contains more statistical information regarding wind, sea state
and other maritime phenomena.
Wednesday April 7
Lat: 20 deg 39’ N Long 105 deg 15’
Left Puerta Vallarta with 210 gallons fuel, 180 gallons water, $1,000 worth of
Mexican provisions: boat down 3” on the waterline.
Fuel dock fiasco – geyser of diesel, finally solved with a heavy discount and a
shower. Motored through Banderas Bay, dolphin pod saw us off, turned 3
circles, set sail with 2 reefs in the main for a conservative start. Quiet Night:
Dinner – seafood rice paella
Thursday Apr. 8
Lat: 19 deg 41’ N Long 107 deg 15’
Todays Miles157
Smooth sail till noon, passed Cabo Corrientes with no hassles, main sail (1 reef)
& 94 jib, wind picked up : 18-24 knots wind, “wild ride” all night; we send/receive
first emails from the Pacific. Dinner – Thai chicken green curry with fragrant
coconut rice, mango chutney. Vanilla pudding.
Friday Apr 9th
Lat: 18 deg 09’N Long 108 deg 59’
Todays Miles: 125
Wind continued strong all day till sunset then died down to 16 knots, cool
evening: Saw huge freighter bound for Acapulco. Easter Friday, Henry cooked
great Dinner: caramelized onions, grilled yellow & green peppers, rice, ostrich
steak medallions. Chocolate bar.
Sat Apr. 10
Lat: 17deg 37’N Long 109 deg 42’
Todays Miles: 95
Ran engine for 2 hrs, wind 12 knots, pleasant day; enjoying radio & weather nets
and checking in with Don/Summer Passage. Awful night with light & variable
winds, medium swell, boat banging around; GT sighted Southern Cross. Dinner:
Vegetable stir-fry & spicy noodles. Orange slices.
Apr 11: Easter Sun
Lat: 16 deg 11’N Long 111 deg 47’
Today miles:105
Very light winds,boat speed 3 knots, nice sunny day with calm water, loosened
turnbuckles on uppers/lowers on rig by half turn, hoping to reduce pumping
under heavy weather; did a few items of laundry, started reading books; radio
nets – boats ahead of us encountering rough weather. Dinner: ostrich
medallions, caramelized onions, peppers, rice pilaf, crème caramel flan with glass
of wine to celebrate Easter.
Monday Apr 12
Lat: 15 deg 53’N Long 112 deg 47’
Today’s miles 100
Calm Seas, light winds, Jack driving, sighted large fishing vessel to port. Working
our way through fresh produce, now have 2 loaves of bread left; found & opened
large box of chocolate biscuits…. 12-14 knot winds, perfect: 140 mile day. Did
email & submitted first Yotreps report.
Dinner: fresh guacolmole (from 2 of the 18 avocados aboard), melba toast, grilled
salmon roulade, potato w/cheese filling.
Tuesday Apr 13
Lat: 14 deg 40’N Long 115 deg 40’
Today’s miles 142
Very calm, beautiful blue sky, no wind – use this as a down day: shower, haircut,
laundry, sorted fruit & vegetable baskets, full diesel tanks from 4 yellow fuel jugs
(good to get them off the deck); made cheesecake to celebrate GT’s mum’s
birthday; 3 big seabirds crap on dodger, 2 dead flying fish on deck. Dinner:
chicken keiv, saffron rice, green peas. Cheese cake, red wine to toast birthday.
Wed Apr 14
Lat: 14 deg 01’N Long 117 deg 06’
Today’s miles 95
NE Trades !! wind lightens and veers to north from the NW prevailings, then NE.
Cloud formations different today. Dinner: Salmon medallions, garlic mashed
potato, fresh veg. Cheesecake.
Thur Apr 15
Lat: 13 deg 09’N Long 118 deg 14’
Today’s miles 94
Flying fish fly’s into GT’s lap while she’s reading on watch! Both fish & GT
freaked out! Wind 17-18 knots, jibe for the first time since we started, now on port
tack – our port side muscles (legs etc) weak from being on starboard tack for a
week, a little uncomfortable. Reefed at midnight, Spoke with Don…. Great
discourse, Winds 25 knots. Dinner: Turkey/Apple/Cinnamon sausages with rice,
salsa, fresh veg. Cheesecake.
Fri Apr 16
Lat: 13 degN Long: 118 deg 40’
Todays Miles 90
Same conditions, grey sky, winds between 18 & 28 knots all day. Both tired &
cranky. We’re on track. 230T course. Switch to 2 hrs on 2 off tonight due to wind
conditions. Wested, into squalls, winds 28-34 all night, rained hard, we’re
soaking wet, gone thru 3 changes of dry clothes, hand steered over 25 knots thru
big seas. Boats ahead in PuddleJumpers net advise 50 knot squalls, lying to sea
anchor. Dinner: ostrich & tomato bolognaise over pasta. Crème Caramel.
Sat Apr 17
Lat : 12 deg 20’N Long 119 deg 28 ‘
Today’s miles 132
Jibed to Southeast (156deg) to escape low pressure system, winds lightened to
28 knots, still grey, rainy, squalls passing to west, not on desired course, but less
rough: noon winds lightened, seas big, running engine to help punch thru
waves/swell, cold, full heavy foul weather gear, wool hats, both exhausted & wet,
napped, shoulders ache from steering. Recovery afternoon, handed boat back
to Jack all night. Dinner: Large bowls Clam Chowder. Chocolates. Orange slices.
Sun Apr 18
Lat: 11 deg 48’N Long 121 deg 30’
Today’s miles137
Course 190, still southing, ok for rhumbline heading, both tired but returned to 3
hr watches, seas 12-15ft but wind easing to 20 knots, first piece of blue sky in 4
days; did boat running repairs; lazy jacks, patched small hole in main, sail taped
biminy tears, fixed 2nd reef block/lines (had torn from sail during heavy weather);
relaxing day, needed this after being “beaten up” for 3 days; had a beer. Email
from Sven (Spiritus Invictus) advising he had crossed Equator, great news.
Speranza left Mexico to start passage. Dinner: chicken cordon blue, seasoned
rice, mango chutney, fresh avocado slices. Vanilla pudding.
Mon Apr 19
Lat: 08 deg 24’N Long: 124 deg 07’
Today’s miles 120
Sunday night, wind, swell picked up again, rain, winds to 34 knots (glad we fixed
2nd reef block yesterday); back to 2 hr watches, managing helm in these
conditions very demanding, focus, “wired” coming off watch. GT has start of
bad shoulder/neck cramps. Both tired. Jack died during dinner. Dinner: Turkey
chilli (first meal out of a can). Fresh orange slices. Chocolate.
Tue Apr 20
Lat: 06 deg 50’ N Long 125 deg 12 ‘
Today’s miles 110
Squalls, rain, wind 28-34 knots, big black smudjy squalls; bad news from s/v
Djadara via radio 150 miles ahead, Victoria got thrown from helm through
companionway, injured head/face. Weather system (combined Pineapple
Express/NE Trades/ITCZ that moved north) playing havoc with large area – we
are on the edge of it….boat still full of wet clothes & towels. Cold, foul weather
gear again. Called Commander Wx systems “what is this?” jibed south again to
avoid intensifying cells to the west. Jibing Dreamcatcher in big seas, driving rain
at 34 knots, scary. Step by step. Very careful, nothing breaks. Noticeably more
stable conditions 6 hrs later, motored 4 hrs. Dinner: Pumpkin Soup, crackers &
cheese w/sun-dried tomato.
Wed Apr 21
Lat: 05 deg 34’N Long 126 deg 17’
Today’s miles 120
Our 2 week milestone, pre-dawn talked to Don/Summer Passage on our
position/proximity to ITCZ: it is still north of it’s usual position (3-7 deg N) we are
in it. Jibe west again, aiming for 130 deg long. equatorial crossing; blue sky, 18
knots, lovely sailing, safe enough to disrobe & shower, radio nets still great
company, keep us from feeling alone – still sighted no sailboats. Flying fish on
deck each day.
Dinner: Chicken Cordon Blue, mashed garlic potatoes, green peas, chutney.
Oranges
Thur Apr 22
Lat: 05 deg 03’N Long 128 deg 14’
Today’s miles 115
Great sailing, 18 knots, GT’s shoulders aching from hand steering, 2 hr watches
full time now. Where are these doldrums? Want a couple of days calm.
Dinner – fresh vegetable bolognaise over pesto tortellini pasta. Glass of wine.
Fri Apr 23
Lat: 03 deg 57’N Long 129 deg 28’
Today’s miles 120
Heave to for 6 hours, sleep, shower….light winds, 6 knots.
Dinner: smorgasbord in cockpit – fresh avocado, crackers, blue cheese, sun-
dried tomatoes, celery with peanut butter in channel. Beer, Oranges.
Sat Apr 24
Lat: 02 deg 17’N Long 130 deg 50’
Today’s miles 110
Winds 9-11 knots, we get spinnaker out; had main up, hard to hold kite.
Shred halyard, but able to chop off shredded end, bowline & duct tape,ugly but
OK. Take in spinnaker late afternoon. Motor 6 hrs in 8 knots wind. Make
Cheesecake for tomorrow. Dinner: Sausages (sun-dried tomato & cheese),
mashed potato, mixed veg. Caramel pudding (Nestle).
Sun Apr 25
Lat: 00 deg 00’ Long 131 deg 32’
Today’s miles 110
Spinnaker all day without main: flies much better… Have to take bimini down to
see sail, hot, GT in long pj pants, long sleeves, big hat. Drop kite at 4pm,
approaching equator. Heave to for 3 hrs and cross Equator!! a major milestone.
Shower, lipstick (GT), phone calls to parents (love that Iridium!) We are now in the
Southern Hemisphere.!
Celebratory dinner: Smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, melba toast, fresh
avocado, bottle of champagne with toasts to everyone we can think of, including
Neptune.
Mon Apr 26
Lat: 0 deg 43’ S Long 132 deg 19’
Today’s miles 120
Great winds, SE trades are running, 18 knots, terrific sail all day.
Dinner: Pasta with tomato sauce, cheesecake
Tue Apr 27
Lat: 02 deg 21’ S Long 133 deg 31’
Today’s miles 110
Great Sailing, winds 15-20 knots
Dinner; Salmon roulades, saffron rice, tomato/avocado slices. Cheesecake.
Wed Apr 28
Lat: 03 deg 46’ S Long 134 deg 42’
Today’s miles 135
Jibed, need to make some southing, winds about 15 knots…great sailing but 2 hr
watches & hand steering starting to take toll, we are constantly tired. Night –
squalls come and go, GT on helm in 34 knots wind squall, wake Henry for
assistance, need to ease main, jib, boat at hull speed, 8.2 knots, very alarming!
wild, hairy, drenching ride. Too much adrenaline to sleep. Dinner, Sausages,
mashed potato, fresh tomatoes. Hot chocolate.
Thur Apr 29
Lat: 05 deg 16’ S Long 136 deg 15
Today’s miles 100
Closing in, only 400 miles to go, hard to hold course, wind dead down-wind.
Jibe, 6 hrs later jibe again, winds good at 14-16 knots from SE now. Compass
acts up – shows 18-20 deg off: we email compass guy who gives technical
treatise on mis-behaviour of compasses that have been calibrated in nthn
hemisphere. Steering with GPS. Cannot hold our 210 desired course,
frustrating, try to point too high, main bangs around despite preventer, poor
boat. Jibe again, too much southing, jibe west again. Frustrated we cannot lay
the landfall waypoint.
Dinner: Chinese sweet & sour chicken (using last of fresh veg) with ginger rice
Fri Apr 30
Lat: 07 deg S Long 136 deg 50
Today’s miles: 110
Winds change from SE trades to NE – why? Too far south for the NE trades here.
Jibe again, winds between 12 & 15 knots…thinking about poling out jib but too
hard for one person to do (other stuck on helm) as clew to high and seas very
rolly. Still trying to hold 210 but get beam seas each time we’re close…wind not
enough to drive us through rolly seas. Getting cranky with this. Dinner: chicken
chilli (frozen, home made in Mexico), grated cheese, chopped onion.
Sat May 1
Lat: 08 deg 38’ S Long 137 deg 30’
Today’s miles: 100
Still NE winds 17knots, stay on southerly jibe all day: 190 deg only course we
can manage, still need 210, southing too much…. We know we’re close, very
tired, winds lighten quickly at sundown, down to 12 knots, then 7 knots…. We are
exhausted, turn on engine and drive to final waypoint in light air overnight.
Dinner: Thai chicken curry with cardamom rice, mango chutney.
Sun May 2
La:t 09 deg 44’ S Long 138 deg 37’
LANDFALL at dawn – wonderful
sight. Motor past Hiva Oa to
Tahuata Island. Drop anchor late
afternoon. Dinner: 2 beers &
chocolate bar. Sleep 17 hours
straight.
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