Position Reports

Position: 6º 41.742’ S 20º 0.282’ W Last night’s dinner turned out to be glorious chicken and slaw sandwiches. Ruby’s dough was used for focaccia instead of pizza (though we are having pizza tonight, I hear). And that was in turn made into sandwiches. For the non-GF non-cruiser set, this might sound under whelming, but I can assure you, there was much rejoicing on Convivia. Today we have been paraded by jumping fish. Hour after hour they jump. These are not the flying fish that we have become accustomed to, but large yummy looking fish. In related news, something really big bit right through my steel leader and stole my best lure today. Drat. ...

Position: 7º 7.47’ S 17º 13.47’ W The kids have requested to make one meal a day for the family. Considering that Ruby’s chocolate chip cookies are the best GF cookies I’ve ever had, I think we can trust them to do a good job. Tonight, it seems, is pizza night. We are making great progress towards Martinique, conditions are mild, sea is down and wind is stable (though other boats report lower wind speeds today). It is a great feeling to wake up at 3am and be excited for my watch, we are truly in passage making mode now! ...

Position: 7º 47.01’ S 14º 53.94’ W We approached Ascension as twilight broke and wrapped slowly around the northwest tip of the island and down to the Georgetown Anchorage. The conditions were mild, and it seemed that the swell we had been warned of had left the area. After talking with friends on Gaia, we decided to have a closer look, and found that the anchorage was untenable, given our limited time and needs. ...

Position: 9º 3.732’ S 12º 47.802’ W The kids made cookie dough yesterday and stashed enough in the freezer that we can have 2 cookies each per week until Martinique. Another bird hit the boat last night, this time it disappeared before I could check on it. The Wha? It’s finally starting to feel tropical. Watches are in tee-shirts and undies, and I think I’ll make a batch of cold brew coffee today. ...

Position: 10º 56.76’ S 11º 8.442’ W Making decent progress. Kids totally melted down yesterday, so much for sweet passage making mode. Last night on watch I got hit in the back of the head by a large seabird. That was pretty weird. It came to slowly and flew off after about an hour. All is well

Position: 12º 39.582’ S 9º 17.202’ W Day 2 was much like day 1. The conditions are very nearly ideal and we are making slower than normal but still good progress toward Ascension. It’s heartening that we are all slipping easily into cruising mode, given that we have 7000+ miles of it to do in the next two months. All is well.

Position: 13º 59.808’ S 7º 44.802’ W We are on our way to Ascension Island. If everything goes according to plan we will be another 4 days at sea, then 3 days of rest before pushing onward for Martinique. The passage has been decent so far. The seas are a little lumpier than we had hoped for, but manageable, and the wind is constantly 15-20 knots from behind. The kids have settled into passage-making mode more quickly than usual, and are happy reading and doing other low key things (phew). ...

Position: 15º 55.482’ S 5º 43.488’ W Moored in St Helena! Upon arrival we were greeted by the crews of no less than five boats who hopped right aboard for celebratory sundowners. Those who arrived before us report that this is a magical location, and our initial survey would lead us to concur. This most remote island is dramatic, to say the least and to be here with so many old friends will complete the package. ...

Position: 16º 6.18’ S 4º 51.318’ W LAND HO! Vick spotted the faint outline of St Helena at 715GMT. We had 63 miles to go! It looks like we will make landfall just after sunset. I spotted a large turtle to port this morning. All is well.

Position: 17º 0.852’ S 2º 36.54’ W @Raymarine we are hand steering. Truly wish the ST2000 that we paid so much for (less than a month ago) was working. :(

Position: 17º 2.148’ S 2º 34.95’ W It’s been seriously overcast for two days and the batteries are showing it, so we had to turn the engine on this morning, just to top up. The wind has slacked off a bit too, so it works out just fine. A little boost to speed and power! The kids are playing minecraft together and Vick and I are tearing through book after book. We expect to make landfall midday tomorrow. ...

Position: 17º 36.192’ S 0º 45.708’ W We are in the Western Hemisphere!! The coconut oil is liquid and Vick reports that she did not wear shoes or socks for her pre-sunrise watch this morning. All is well.

Position: 19º 15.582’ S 4º 4.392’ E Day 5 and we are reveling in this rolling main. The sea is slight and orderly, the wind is constant the sun is out, and the reading and cuddling that we recall most warmly from our best passages are now the norm again. I could do this forever. Our little fleet is paced just about perfectly too. Our kid boat friends are making the same daily mileage, day after day, so we are staying fairly closely clustered. I expect them to arrive in St. Helen a within a day of us (if not less). ...

Position: 19º 18.042’ S 4º 13.212’ E Day 4 and we are fully into the groove of this passage. The wind has been steady between 8-15 knots from the S to SE. We made 143 miles in the last 24hrs, not quite as good as day 1 but pretty much exactly what we budgeted in our planning. We just passed the half way point! The kids are studying their US states. They were promised chocolate if they get them all right the first time. Vick finished reading Story of the World, and is now reading about the Oregon Trail. It’s funny how that brings back memories of my own education and of dying of dysentery in the Apple IIe game. Life is good! ...

Position: 20º 4.332’ S 6º 39.132’ E This is the stuff. The wind is just a little light (10 knots) but we are sailing well and the sea is super comfortable. The kids are reading their biographies (school work) and have finally chilled out enough to be allowed off their berths ;) Last night I watched Master and Commander for the first time and now I want to read the books. What a great way to gain perspective (we have it easy). ...