11.24S 135.25W 8th August 2011 Day 20 Pacific Crossing
Mojo 2
Andrew Partington
Tue 9 Aug 2011 01:20
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In the last (and only) blog I have written I was
going to make the statement "this isn't sailing". Being on watch at the helm
station was an exercise in instrument watching, "tweaking" the knobs once in a
while. Of course you were looking out for boats as well. Not an ocky strap in
sight to secure the tiller whilst you had a break. In fact - no tiller! A
steering wheel to use if changing sails or manoeuvring whilst under motor to
bring that big fish into the boat.
That was pre-autopilot meltdown!!
Now, this is sailing! The chartplotter has become
my best friend. Following a solid magenta line on the screen is my task at the
helmstation. The graphics include a boat that looks a lot like a can of
whipped cream. The button on the top represented by half red (port) and half
green (starboard). It can be described as a Hansel and Gretel boat. This is
because it leaves a trail behind it that looks like the dashed line a line
marking truck makes on the road. Unfortunately, the driver looks as though he's
had a few too many bevvies - the line is wavy. Apparently that's only when I am
at the helm. During daylight hours Andrew is happy to use the compass to steer
the boat. I haven't been able to get a handle on this which may explain my lack
of ability when it comes to backing the trailer.
What do I do with my day?
Not a lot really. I certainly don't worry about my
hair and makeup in the morning, but then, I never did! Showering on a daily
basis is now optional as we have managed to conserve our fresh water very well.
I usually take my on the level derriere (back step) rather than in my quarters.
The scenery is a lot better. Suncreen, hat, and sunglasses go with every
outfit.
I still have a mild panic attack about what to do
for dinner. But then I realise I can't just pop down the shop because I'm out of
fresh everything (except fish), and you make do with what you have got. If
Omega-3 accumulates in our system, Andrew and I would be maxed out. We are just
starting to run out of some of the canned food like fruit, but by rationing it
to every other day we will be fine.Our youngest daughter would be horrified to
know we ran out of baked beans at the Galapagos Islands. Beans in every other
form imaginable, but not baked. We try to eat our dinner before it gets dark, so
we can start the process of sleep/watch for the night. Before the autopilot
meltdown we would go onto the balcony (helmstation) for after dinner drink (not
a typo) to watch the sun go down.
There are two blue buckets on board which combine
to become my washing machine. One for the wash, one for the rinse.
I had planned to do some writing whilst we were out
here, but the days just go!!!
Jane Partington
This has been one of the 24 hour periods out
here you would not swap for the world.
We had another terrific sail under genoa overnight
in 15 knot winds and easing seas. At around 11pmm we did have a period where the
seas became confused again but this did not last long. Jane did a huge watch
from 1am until 5am whilst I snored [allegedly].
This morning we were back to the ocean that greeted
us off Galapagos, calm, blue and 11 knots from the east. We hoisted the genneker
at about 9am and it has been up pulling us along ever since. The wind has varied
today from between 9 and 12 knots from the east, so we are not breaking records.
Average boat speed so far today 5 knots, slow but very pleasant.
Our next waypoint will see us turn further south
through a 20 mile wide passage in the Tuamotu Archipeligo. This group of 78
Islands have been known as the "Low" or "Dangerous Archipelego" because nearly
all of the islands are low coral atolls with fringing reef. The problem
with them is that because they are so low to the water you can only see them
from 8 miles away. With GPS navigation the risks in sailing through these
islands has become greatly reduced.
It was on Raroia Island in
this Archipelego that Thor Hyerdahl's Kon-Tiki raft ran aground at the
end of their expedition from South America to Polynesia back in the late 1940's.
Just finished the book and well worth a read! Would have loved to have
sailed there to see if there is anything left there to commemorate this
incredible journey. Maybe next time!!
We will sail past Takaroa and head through the pass
between Rangiroa and Aratua. After that we should have a clear shot at Tahiti
and the cold beer that awaits.
In the past 24 hours we sailed a solid 136NM and
are 646NM from our waypoint.
Also we would like to say thanks to Andrew
Hill for the help he has provided us in trying to sort out our autopilot issue.
Cheers Andrew.
Andrew Partington [the true and rightful Skipper of
Mojo 2]
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