Saturday, August 13, 2016

Postion Update

Good Morning!

Position:
08/13/16 07:59 HST
38-32 N 153-49 W
SOG 5.2 kn COG 030 M
Wind 8.2 @ 030 M
Clear and Calm
Sailing

Have a great day,

Lad

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Friday, August 12, 2016

Shooting Stars

Good morning,

Position:
08/12/16 07:50 HST
37-37 N 155-12 W
SOG 3.0 kn COG 030 M
Wind 8.2 @ 018 M
Cloudy and Calm
motored yesterday and last night

Last night was again crystal clear and calm. The Shadowsiders' were treated to a great show as we had a front row seat for the Meteor Shower. To bad there is no way to bring the experience to you.

More pictures and boat life coming soon.

Have a great day!

Lad

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Thursday, August 11, 2016

Sunrise

Good Morning,

Position:
08/11/16 07:40 HST
36-18 N 156-37 W
SOG 5.2 kn COG 030 M
Wind 8.2 @ 118 M
Cloudy and Calm

One picture says it all!

Have a great day!
Lad

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Boat Life

Watching

Good Morning,

Position:
08/10/16 07:45 HST
34-16 N 157-22 W
SOG 5.2 kn COG 008 M
Wind 13.0 @ 076 M
Clear and Calm

Well here we are Day 8. The wind came up yesterday afternoon and stayed steady through the night. As expected it is moving into the east allowing us to bend our course to the NE.

Now what do you do for days on end, heeled over on starboard tack while crossing the back side of the Pacific High. Your right, watching!

Life aboard is ruled by the watch Schedule. Each of us is on watch three times a day, usually for 4 hours. Two of us stand watch at any one time. Our watches overlap in a way that gives each of us time to be on watch with each other.

While on duty, we watch everything, the sea, the weather, the sails, the performance of George, IG and Charles P.. Occasionally we have to adjust something or change sail or the course. But, mostly we watch and have interesting conversations and just enjoy being out at sea.

When we go off watch, we head for our bunks. Its hard to get a good sleep 3 hours at a time. We each feed ourselves breakfast and lunch and of course there are snacks.

Dinner is one of our favorite times each day. We do it at change of watch so that we can all gather together. Our boil and bag provisioning lets us have a good meal with very little cleanup.

Last night was another great night of sailing, clear skies and stars. We are very fortunate to have good winds for this part of the Voyage.

Have a great day!

Lad

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Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Don Having Fun

We are "There "

Charles P and the Iron Genny

Good Morning,

Position:
32-18 N 157-13 W
SOG 4.0 kn COG 330 M
Wind 4.7 kn @ 080

The Shadowside is making its way through the backside of the High. The wind deserted us yesterday afternoon.

In the days of the fine wooden sailing ships the ritual of sticking a knife in the main mast was used to summon the wind. Not so easy to do on a contemporary boat with aluminum masts.

By now you all know George our Hydrovane windvane. Although he is a real trooper when the wind is up, George is no help to us here. Therefore let me introduce you to the Iron Genoa and its friend Charles P Townsend. The Iron Genny is of course our own Westerbeke 40 HP Diesel Engine. IG works tirelessly on our behalf as long as we keep feeding it fuel and fresh air. IG is complemented by Charles P. our CPT Wheel Pilot. Charles P. steers us along keeping us on our magnetic course.

Both are nice to have when transiting the back side of the High! Keep up the good work IG and CP!

Have a great day,

Lad

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Monday, August 8, 2016

More pictures

The Stayail is Up

Good Morning,

31-11 N 157-47 W
SOG 5.6 kn COG 350
Wind 070 TWS 9.8
Seas Calm Weather Clear and Sunny

Yesterday and today have been great sailing days with moderate to light NE winds as we work our way through the back side of the High.

I awoke this morning to the sound of the staysail winch on the cabin top above my head. I stuck my head out of the hatch to find Lee and Don smiling in the morning sun. One look at the winch and I knew the Staysail was flying.

The Shadowside is a cutter rigged ketch. This means she has two masts and two forestays. The Jib Forestay carries a large roller furling headsail. The Inner Forestay carries a smaller sail called a staysail.

Now there are few things that are as satisfying to a skipper than to come on watch and find the Boat rigged and sailing in optimum form for the wind and sea conditions. The Staysail gives us an additional half kn of speed over the ground. Its also just a thing of beauty to see a fine ketch with under full sail. Excellent work Lee and Don.

Have a great day!

Lad

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Sunday, August 7, 2016

Back to Dinner

Hi,

From the pictures sent yesterday, you already know that Lee caught a 20lb Mahi Mahi. He also cleaned and prepared it. We feasted on fresh Scheme flowed by mahi tacos. What a great dinner!

We are now starting into the High. 12kn breeze calm sea sunny and warm.

The crew started the day with boat baths and bucket showers. Very refreshed we sail on.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Lad

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Position Update

Good morning,

07:55 HST
29-28 N 157-60 W
SOG 4.5 kn @ 350
Wind 13.3 kn @ 069

Fresh socks this morning. More latter.

Lad

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