Blog entry Eight – Thursday the 18th September 2008

TIME NOW:  1300Z

POSITION:          26 42N, 143 45W            

SPEED:             8.2kts

BEARING:            251T

ETA HONOLULU: 1630 on the 22^{nd SEPT} (in time for Scott’s Birthday drinks)           

 

ROGER:

Hi everyone, I’ve witnessed a glorious sunrise this morning at precisely the time expected at our longitude so I took a photo.  It suddenly popped above a clear horizon on a tranquil and windless sea.  I enjoyed my watch while Brian and Scott were in Disneyland.  Yesterday was equally enjoyable, a clear sky with the odd cumulus and a sparkling sea.  Yesterday was perhaps a little better because not long after setting the line Scott pulled in a beautiful Dorado weighing in at 7 pound.  Dorado (mahi mahi) is a spectacularly coloured surface fish and is often caught with a lure on the end of a long line, which I made up in San Diego.  It consists of a long trace with a lure attached and then 150ft of nylon line weighted with four torpedo sinkers, just efficient to keep the lure beneath wind and water.  I say spectacular because the colour below the pectorals is bright yellow transforming to a deep blue to almost black blue along the fin, which runs three quarters the length of the fish.  A little sad when this one dies because the colour immediately fades – but we all ate it for dinner that evening.  The reason for our settled and tranquil conditions is for several days we have been under the influence of a large northern pacific high and being a power boat our direct route to Hawaii takes us through that system where as sail boats would head more south to skirt the high and find wind.  Interesting stuff.  On Wednesday morning about 0400 whilst servicing the primary fuel filters to the main engine the fuel supply to the main engine was inadvertently cut, stopping the engine.  The sudden stillness brought Scott out of his reverie with a worried look.  We started the wing engine and continued on course at about 3.5 knots while the problem was sorted.  About 30 mins later we got the main engine fired up again and continued on our way, the prospect of travelling at 3.5 knots down to Hawaii didn’t excite us at all, in terms of time it would have meant starting the journey all over again.  We have made contact with Jack and are pleased to hear that He, Erin and Leon will be joining us in Oahu on the 23^rd.  We all send our love to those at home, cheers for now.

SCOTT:

Another day in paradise!  We have been really fortunate with the recent weather conditions, the ocean looks like a moonscape at the moment while I sit here and type.  I wish I could post some pictures but doing this over satellite would take ages.  We have some great shots I’ll upload when we arrive in Oahu.  The blood red sunset in a perfect sky was mesmerising last night it was a similar colour to the transom and back deck of Jacks boat after we filleted our Mahi Mahi dinner last night. Ha ha it cleaned up just fine Jack.  I’m trying a different colour text today so hopefully the words come up properly.  All the best to everyone back home, thanks for reading.

 

BRIAN:

Aloha is the word as we begin to anticipate our arrival, as we start our last but longest leg tonight.  I have been touched by the pacific ocean where we are just now she has the most lovely electric blue colour, it just swallows the sunlight.  The flying fish are now out constantly skirting across the water around the small Portuguese man-o-war jellyfish.  Hopefully we will see more sea life as we approach Hawaii this weekend.  Big hugs and kisses to family in San Diego, I miss you guys, and to everyone in Brasil reading this.  Tchau.