S/V Samadhi V - Passage from Costa Rica to Hawaii, Day 9

Date: 08 May 2009 1400 UTC (0800 Samadhi Time)
Distance sailed in last 24 hours: 78 nm
Distance to Hilo, Hawaii: 3397 nm
Position: 12 00.211N
Longitude: 090 09.669W
COG: 265M
SOG: 4.5 kts under sail
Wind: 8 kts S with variation from many squalls
Seas: 3 ft swell from the SE, small wind waves
Weather: 80% Cloud Cover
Barometric Pressure: 1009.0 mb, rising
Sea Temperature: 88 F

The wind is increasing in fits and starts. We've been seeing the strongest winds in the very early morning and early afternoon. The wind is usually most calm sometime in the late afternoon. Several times over the last 24 hours we have seen more than 10 knots of wind, sometimes over 15 when squalls pass by. The average wind speed continues to be low, and our distance covered since yesterday reflects that. However, the last 24 hours of sailing never saw Samadhi completely stopped, a welcome change! Another side effect of the marginally increased wind has been the elimination of the "glassy" appearance of the ocean.

Yesterday's weather continued to be very hot. Today has dawned cooler; although, this might be simply due to the increased cloud coverage. Squalls are becoming more frequent, carrying with them more rain the first we've seen in a week. Last night was particularly "squally". We went through a squall about every hour and half. As the squalls approach the wind first shifts dramatically, then dies altogether. The drop in wind is followed closely by rain, which usually starts out strong and then steadies before tapering off. The individual drops can be very large. After the squall passes, the wind freshens significantly, and Samadhi surges forward eager to repeat the cycle.

A positive of the rain is the free washdown the boat is receiving. A negative is having to close most of the ports and hatches during the strongest rain. The humidity is quite high here, and depriving yourself of refreshing airflow suddenly makes the boat feel 100% hotter. Luckily, we haven't needed to keep the boat closed for more than 30 minutes at a time.

More swallows have come to roost aboard Samadhi. We have now seen three simultaneously aboard! The poor little birds are completely exhausted and spend most of their time sleeping. Remarkably tame, they will perch on your finger and drink water from a saucer. We have lots of photos and videos to share of these wonderful companions. It looks like something from a Disney tale. We have no idea what the birds are doing so far out to sea. The nearest land is Puerto Ángel, Mexico, over 230 miles off our beam.

Phillip baked more bread yesterday, this time whole wheat with flour hand-imported from Germany by Bernd and Renate. When we make bread, we typically cook two loaves and expect to make more every other day. Unfortunately a ravenous mob attacked the first loaf almost as soon as it was out of the oven. The homemade mayonnaise has also disappeared under similarly suspicious circumstances.