Date: 31 July 2009 2200 UTC (1200 Samadhi Time)
Distance sailed in last 20.5 hours: 142 nm
Distance to Half Moon Bay: 2358 nm
Latitude: 24 08.075 N
Longitude: 158 27.685 W
COG: 005M
SOG: 7.0 kts under sail
Wind: 18 kts NE
Seas: 5 ft ENE swell
Weather: 20% Cloud Cover
Barometric Pressure: 1018.1, rising
Sea Temperature: 81 F
We've had a busy first night of sailing in steep seas. For the purposes of the data at the head of these reports, were guessing it's about 2500 nm from Nawiliwili to Half Moon Bay (assuming our course estimates are correct).
We left from Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai yesterday afternoon. This was more than a day later than anticipated because there is no fuel dock on the island. Instead, you have to have diesel brought out in a tanker truck. Day before yesterday, there was a problem with the fuel distribution, so they postponed all deliveries until yesterday. We made good use of the extra time though, giving both engines (main and genset) an oil change, doing a bit more provisioning, and seeing a little more of the island.
Getting to the dock was quite an adventure because of the strong gusty winds. With another sailor's help, we were able to get Samadhi safely out of the tight slip she was in. On the other side, some local fisherman helped Kelly secure lines. It's really been a pleasure being around such friendly, kind people. Kelly will never forget a little boy warning her, "Auntie, watch out!" when she went to pick up a little crab to take it off his fishing line.
While taking on fuel, the locals warned us that it was pretty rough out there. Apparently, one day boat passenger had jumped off at the pier and prostrated himself on the concrete. We were not too concerned. It looked about like the conditions we'd had coming over from Oahu. We took some sea sickness meds just in case though.
By 1530 local time, we were on or way through the outer breakwater of the harbor, the boat in full "submarine" mode (where we close every port and hatch tightly) and ready for weather. Just as we made it to the swells, Samadhi greeted them with a giant belly flop off of a wave crest. It was definitely a sign of what was to come. We've had brisk winds and square seas so far, with no change apparent for the time being. Still, with these conditions, it's easy to keep up a reasonable pace. As you might guess, it sure beats the slatting we had on the passage from Costa Rica!
With all the bumping around, neither of us had a mind or stomach for a big meal. We sated ourselves on apples and nectarines and made a meal of fresh guacamole. Kelly started feeling a tad bit woozy at the end of her first watch, but otherwise, we've had no issues with mal de mer.
We've already had our first equipment casualty of the cruise. Around 4 a.m. ST (Samadhi Time), Kelly woke to a loud bang. Phil hadn't heard anything unusual from the salon, so Kelly went to go back to sleep. Then, he heard it. "Kelly are you doing that?"
"What?"
"Are you making that noise?"
"What noise?"
Phil responded with some of the language that sailors are known for and hurried on deck. The deck block for the running back had sheared so that it was loose from the shackle holding it to the chainplate. Phil got the runner under control while Kelly took off the block. Then, he reattached it to the shackle with one of our favorite tools, the snatch block. It's easy enough to say, but imagine you're on ground that runs at about a 15 degree bank and it's pitching like the whole thing was mounted on a bucking bronco. Every time the bronco bucks, the line you're clinging to tries to wrench itself out of your hands and throw you to the deck. Well, we were very happy to have it back on the winch where it belongs. We also noticed that the spinnaker halyard had come loose from its winch and wrapped itself around one of the shrouds. Thankfully, the stopper knot saved it from going up the mast, and it was easily secured again.
This morning when Kelly came on watch about 6:30 a.m. ST, we took a reef in the main as the wind had freshened. Samadhi's much happier and faster this way. We also heel less. By 10 a.m. ST the seas had begun to smooth out a bit, which has reduced our tendency to put the bow into the ocean.
It's been a brilliant, sunny day so far with plenty of breeze. We're already missing our many Hawaiian friends. We're already looking forward to coming back!
