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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Monday, August 8, 2016
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
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
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Fishing and Noon Sightings
Hello to everyone out there on solid ground! We're doing great here at sea...weather has been lovely and winds steady from the east between 15-20 knots. We've been on a starboard tack for four days, which means we're living our lives on a slant. You can imagine how difficult it is to do everyday tasks, like cooking and using the bathroom when leaning and sliding to the left while also bumping up and down with the ocean swell. It's taken a few days, but we're getting our sea legs! Today we're determined to catch a fish. We're hunting a big one, not just some little guppy. We're trolling our line and hoping for sushi in our future. We're also keeping ourselves busy by trying to take a noon sighting using the ancient technology, the sextant. After much trial and error, we've concluded that we're lucky for GPS and that those ancient mariners had mad skills. Well, that's all for now. Check back in soon for more adventures from the middle of the Pacific. We love you all and miss you.
-Molly
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
-Molly
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Sun Rise
Good Morning!
Saturday 08/06/16
07:50 HST
27-24 N 157-48 W
SOG 5.9 kn COG 002
Wind 075 @ 14.6 kn
Dawn brings the sun and a new day after a very dark night. Yesterday was a good day of sailing. We are now 362.7 NM north of HI.
Molly, Lee and Michelle spent the two days prior to our departure preparing food and vacuum bagging it in individual portions. Last night we had a sumptuous dinner around 20:00. Put the bags to boil in our pressure cooker. No fuss no mess! I had the curry, excellent!
Crew and skipper doing well.
Lad
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Saturday 08/06/16
07:50 HST
27-24 N 157-48 W
SOG 5.9 kn COG 002
Wind 075 @ 14.6 kn
Dawn brings the sun and a new day after a very dark night. Yesterday was a good day of sailing. We are now 362.7 NM north of HI.
Molly, Lee and Michelle spent the two days prior to our departure preparing food and vacuum bagging it in individual portions. Last night we had a sumptuous dinner around 20:00. Put the bags to boil in our pressure cooker. No fuss no mess! I had the curry, excellent!
Crew and skipper doing well.
Lad
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)