Looking at the log book for last night I see I was having a hard time. Sails up and down, in and out, tacking, gybing and engine on. Sometimes reducing sail as going too fast and others just no wind. I was surprised to find we had covered 109 miles noon to noon, a commendable effort in such trying conditions. It must be good for you, good exercise in the fresh air.
Since midday it has been easy street. Sailing with just the jib poled out to port, making a steady five plus knots in sparkling weather directly towards our destination. Also, an opportunity to catch up on some sleep from the night before.
Today we crossed the imaginary line into the Tropic of Cancer. This line marks the furthest point north the sun will get before heading back to the south again. If you stood on the line at midday of the summer solstice the sun would be directly overhead at noon. The word tropic is derived from a Greek word meaning to turn (that’s what we learned in navigation).
The Greeks were quite good at maths and figuring out what the planets were doing. The ancient Brits were also up to speed on all that stuff – just that being illiterate they couldn’t write it down – they had to explain it in big stone circles
This time last year Truce and I were in Sitka Alaska. Sitka was a really nice place, one of the best towns in Alaska.
What a contrast sailing into Hawaii.
I am getting quite excited by it all now and really looking forward to getting ashore in Hilo, only three more days to go.
A small rum and coke will be appropriate for sundowners today, we are in the tropics after all.
Voyage distance 1,816 miles.
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 
Leave a Reply