So far, the light and variable airs of the doldrums is suiting us fine. Jessica remarked how nice it was to have some flat sailing and not be constantly banging and crashing to windward. I can’t argue with that sentiment. The temperature here is almost perfect, the daytime temperature in the shade is not excessive... Continue Reading →
INTO THE INTER TROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE (ITCZ)
No sooner had I written the words ‘ I think the fun will start this evening’ in my log yesterday afternoon than the wind suddenly died. We had entered the ITCZ, the doldrums of old. I had to drop all sail as we were sitting stationary and rolling around with sails slapping back and forth... Continue Reading →
FIVE HUNDRED MILES FROM KIRITIMATI
We are now five hundred miles from Kiritimati. A large area of calms is showing up in front of us and appears to be growing by the day. This is the ITCZ, an area of calms, thunderstorms and variable winds we need to cross before Christmas Island. The current weather is overcast with rain, the... Continue Reading →
FRESH FISH TODAY
We Jogged into windward all afternoon yesterday until eight thirty in the evening. This allowed the worst of the weather to pass south of us and gave us a break to catch up on some sleep and have a decent dinner. Truce pinches to windward under triple reefed main and staysail at between two and four knots... Continue Reading →
A NIGHT OF SQUALLS
It started last night around seven. First an unsettling motion and confused sea and then a night of squalls. I was up all night trying to get through without losing to much of the precious ground we had made to the east. We succeeded getting twenty-three miles to the east and also came out with... Continue Reading →
MAKING GOOD TIME SOUTH
We have found some clear wind and are now making good time to the south. The wind prediction and forecast is for easterly wind, we have been experiencing winds between south east and east south east. This has meant that we continue to sail on a close reach as we try and make some easting. ... Continue Reading →
BREAKING FREE FROM HAWAII
Wind holes, rain clouds and general difficulty in breaking free from the Hawaiian Island chain. This afternoon we are 145 miles east of the Big Island and still in its wind shadow. Frustration gave way to action at three this afternoon, I started the engine and motored to the south. After two hours we had... Continue Reading →
CURSE OF THE CAMEMBERT
Last night Jessica and I dined on salad, crackers and camembert cheese in the cockpit under the stars. An hour later I had stomach cramps, then Jessica got it. We were both violently sick. The Camembert was the culprit. It left us both feeling a bit under the weather for a while. No more camembert... Continue Reading →
HAWAII TO KIRITIMATI
Last night was the Waikiki Yacht Club party. Another great party and I am partied out and ready for sea. Richard departed early this morning, back to the mainland. Now its just Jessica and myself to undertake the final preparations for the voyage. First was the US Immigration and Boarder Protection at Pier 1. The... Continue Reading →
PREPARING TO DEPART HONOLULU
Last night we attended a great party at the Honolulu Yacht Club. All the Transpac race boats have now finished so there was a great celebration and lots of sailor stories. The food, wine and music were excellent with good company. This morning was a little subdued. We spent the day doing odd jobs and... Continue Reading →
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 