Day 106 – February 5
Current position: Latitude 3˚ South. Only 240 nautical miles until we reach the equator - at least 700 nautical miles until Micronesia. Seems like an eternity when our average sailing distance has only been 70 nautical miles over a 24 hour period.
A very trying day for me today. Besides being exhausted from a sleepless night, there was little to no wind. Most of the day was spent drifting in the hot sun with the sails flapping and the rigging creaking. It drove me absolutely insane, testing my patience.
Day 107 – February 6
The one question that no one knows the answer to is “where are we headed”? With over 700 nautical miles to sail and shifty winds some days it looks like we might end up in Micronesia and other days it seems we’ll miss it completely and end up in Palau or even Indonesia. That’s what happens when you sail by the wind and not with the help of an engine.
Day 108 – February 7
Current position: Latitude 1˚ South! After being pushed in a NW direction by the wind it looks like we will miss the Chuuk (Truk) island group of Micronesia which is due north 480 nautical miles and will hopefully reach the Yap island group of Micronesia, which is even further away - at least 1000 nautical miles. Sad to say we may be at sea for a few more weeks.
Day 109 – February 8
Salty bed sheets, salty clothes, salty skin… everything these days seems to have that sticky salty feel to it. When sailing the open ocean bucket showers seem to happen only once every 4 days and to pass the time we read, cook, or just daydream while watching the huge ocean swells roll by.
Day 110 – February 9
Current position: Latitude 0˚ – we’ve crossed the equator! We celebrated as the GPS read 0˚00’ latitude and 150˚43’ longitude at 11 pm last night. We’ve headed into the northern hemisphere and have gone from it being summer in the southern hemisphere to it being winter in the northern hemisphere. But then again, being so close to the equator it’s always hot and steamy regardless of the season.
Day 111 – February 10
Just when I thought I’d have to endure another dinner of canned tuna for the 12th straight night we caught a fish… and not just one but two! To start off, we hooked a 3-foot grey shark but the lure was so embedded in his tooth filled mouth that we cut the line and he swam away with our lure. As soon as we replaced the lure and put the lines back in the water we hooked our “first-ever” mahi. Once we got him into the cockpit we immediately hooked a spanish mackerel, one of our favorites. Such excitement for one day.
Day 112 – February 11
We’ve been spoiled with great wind the past several days that today when it suddenly died it was quite a disappointment. Floating in the Pacific Ocean, fixing the engine which had flooded with water again was how we spent our day. For a little refreshment, I swam in the ocean with schooling mahi swimming under me and when I got out I realized that I had a baby remora suctioned to my leg. Crazy little guy!
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