Date: 4 August 2009 2100 UTC (1200 Samadhi Time)
Distance sailed in last 23 hours: 137 nm
Distance to Half Moon Bay: 1714 nm
Latitude: 33 46.012 N
Longitude: 153 38.427 W
COG: 013M
SOG: 6.2 kts under power
Wind: 2 kts NE
Seas: 3 ft E swell, 1.5 ft W swell (longer period)
Weather: 75% Cloud Cover (due to large rain squall)
Barometric Pressure: 1026.5, rising
Sea Temperature: 79 F
This morning we changed our clocks to UTC -9. There are two more time changes to go before we're in PDT (UTC -7). We'll let you know when those are going to happen.
Also as of this morning we have started the diesel (the D-sail) and switched to motor sailing. The wind steadily decreased all day yesterday, nearly stopping last night. After allowing for the morning to arrive to see if the day brought improved breezes we decided to start motoring. We have been expecting the wind to slacken as we approach the Pacific High pressure system. The winds will resume (from the other direction!) on the other side of the high pressure system.
We are seeing more and more trash in the ocean, including large items such as a blue plastic drum, safety orange crates (scared Phillip as he thought they were lifejackets), logs and fishing net floats. Normally, when we are at sea we don't see ANY trash at all. This leads us to believe we are approaching the Pacific Garbage Gyre, also known as the Pacific Garbage Patch. The Garbage Gyre is a giant circular patch of floating trash that is held in place by currents. Once trash enters this area it stays for a very, very long time.
For the first time since leaving Hawaii, yesterday morning we put out our fishing lines. We had very little activity on the crossing from Central America to Hawaii, so between that and the quantity of food already on board (no place to freeze fish!), we were in no particular hurry. Imagine our surprise then when only an hour into our first day's attempt, we caught a small mahi mahi! Unfortunately, she managed to free herself in the journey between the ocean and the deck.
After the disappointing loss of the lunch mahi mahi yesterday morning, we were rewarded with a slightly larger dinner version that afternoon. We had kept the lines out of the water while we got the daily email update ready and made lunch. In the early afternoon, we put them out again. At least we knew there was something out there! About 3:30 p.m. ST, Kelly landed the 16 lb. dorado, and this time Phillip gaffed it aboard--we were taking no chances! We fried up a couple of chunks for an afternoon snack. Later, it made for a delicious dinner, prepared with a lemon caper sauce. We are also "cooking" ceviche for today. The rest we vacuum sealed and froze. That one small "cow" made for 12 generous portions of fillet, not including the chunks for ceviche!
We have a couple of pieces of 1/16" Spectra line that attach the fishing poles to the boat acting as safety lanyards. After our trip from Costa Rica, both of them were showing their age. Since these are the only thing preventing $$$$ in equipment from falling overboard, Phillip made up new ones last night.
We had a real treat last night when we got to watch three very large whales (Fin whales?), sounding almost continuously as they swam Southwest past Samadhi. We have never seen whales sounding so frequently, it appeared they were taking another breath every 50 yards. We both stood outside in awe as these majestic creatures made their past Samadhi and onto whatever salty destination they had in mind.
There has been a large amount of vessel traffic in the last day. We've had three encounters with ships underway for Panama or Japan. Based on the AIS information reported on the vessels, we get the impression we are in a shipping lane between Japan and the Panama Canal. So far, our closest point of approach has been 2.2 miles, but this seems close at night when they are going over 22 knots and may not see us!
The ocean continues to grow calmer with the lack of wind smoothing the surface of the water. The sky is dotted with small puffy white clouds from one horizon to the other. We have been treated to a spectacular sunset, followed by an equally extraordinary "moonset" around 4am and then onto the glorious, warm sunrise. The beauty and tranquility of the ocean is truly beyond compare.
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