October 29, 2018

Day 25

Noon Position: 11 16S 131 47W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): SSE+ 6

Wind(t/tws): E- 13

Sea(t/ft): E 3

Sky: Clear, utterly

10ths Cloud Cover: 0

Bar(mb): 1016, rising

Cabin Temp(f): 86

Water Temp(f): 81 (Still!)

Relative Humidity(%): 63

Sail: #2 genoa and main, close reach. Likely go to #1 soon. Wind really tailing off.

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 141

Miles since departure: 3,272

Avg. Miles/Day: 131

An idyllic day. Wind has softened and the sea has gone down. I’ve eased sheets and now we slide along at a respectable but unhurried pace over a big blue marble, ...

October 28, 2018

Day 24

Noon Position: 08 58S 132 16W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): SSE 6

Wind(t/tws): E 14

Sea(t/ft): E 4 -5 (finally swell is coming E. Whew. Easier ride.)

Sky: Light, puffy cumulus

10ths Cloud Cover: 2

Bar(mb): 1015+

Cabin Temp(f): 86

Water Temp(f): 81 (surprised at the continuing warm water)

Relative Humidity(%): 709

Sail: #2 genoa full, main one reef, close reach

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 150

Miles since departure: 3,131

Avg. Miles/Day: 130

Two Frigate birds followed Mo for a time today.

Frigates? Way out here?

Then I realized we are a mere 400 west of the ...

Though much of it was somewhat predictable, Garmin is bringing lots of good news to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) tomorrow. The powerful operating system behind their premium GPSMap 8600 Series 17-, 22-, and 24-inch MFDs is coming to more affordable 10-, 12-, and 16-inch displays; new BlueChart g3 cartography with Navionics data integration and Auto Guidance will be preloaded in the new plotters; the inReach Mini satellite messenger will get a marine power kit and integration with many Garmin MFDs; and there will be more remote control and camera options to help create a particular boat’s optimal ...

October 27, 2018

Day 23

Noon Position: 06 36S  133 06W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): SxE 7

Wind(t/tws): ExN 16 – 20

Sea(t/ft): SE 5

Sky: Cumulus and Squalls coming

10ths Cloud Cover: 5

Bar(mb): 1014, falling

Cabin Temp(f): 84

Water Temp(f): 81 (surprising to see the water temp go up)

Relative Humidity(%): 75

Sail: #2 genoa, two reefs; main, one reef; close reach

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 137

Miles since departure: 2981

Avg. Miles/Day: 130

Our steady trade winds are a variable beast this year. An afternoon of clear skies, true wind at 18 – 20 and Mo with double reefs ...

#130 RECYCLED. John Kretschmer has long been a hero of mine, and has become a friend and mentor over the past 10+ years. John runs offshore adventure sailing passages on his Kaufman 47 QUETZAL (the inspiration for our own business), is a former delivery skipper and a renowned author of several books, including his latest ‘Sailing to the Edge of Time,’ which will release in November. Andy spoke to John back in 2016.

Show Notes:

• Check out John Kretschmer’s new book: “Sailing to the Edge of Time: The Promise, the Challenges, and the Freedom of Ocean Voyaging” 

• Ready to

On Tuesday we begin the two-day journey back to Totem. It’s time. It’s past time. Here’s how we’re sure:

1. The socks are on, and we’re not talking about Boston
2. Nobody needs this many potato chip options
3. 60 is the new 80 (temperature at which teens put on pants/hoodies)
4. No longer accidentally calling bathroom “the head”
5. Now nostalgically referring to guest bedroom as “our cabin”
6. Explained ourselves one too many times
7. Swerving to avoid catastrophe on the road one too many times
8. Bathroom scale is new nemesis (need to put a halt to the pound-per-week plan)
9. Gone out for Mexican

October 26, 2018

Day 22

Noon Position: 04 22S 133 35W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): SSE 6

Wind(t/tws): E 15

Sea(t/ft): SE 4-5

Sky: High Cumulus, some left over squall from the night; clear by afternoon.

10ths Cloud Cover: 7, 3 by afternoon

Bar(mb): 1014, rising

Cabin Temp(f): 86

Water Temp(f): 80

Relative Humidity(%): 82

Sail: #2 genoa full, main, one reef, close hauled.

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good: 150

Miles since departure: 2884

Avg. Miles/Day: 129

When I bought Mo, she had in her port cockpit locker a hefty series drogue that had clearly been of great help to previous owners. I, too, ...