Day 24 - 1569 to go

Well, we're not going to win any speed records out here. We continue to
cruise along with light winds, comfortable for the most part, just a little
chilly.

I baked scones for breakfast as an excuse to run the oven for a while.

As I write, we have the cabin heater burning merrily. It's the first time it
has been run in three years. It's not as warm as I remember. I also have the
CO detector turned on - that thing freaks me out.

At least I have a cozy pair of slippers. John just has two pairs of white
cotton socks. Yuck. Yesterday, I offered to make him fleece slippers from
some fleece scraps we have aboard. It was my domestic goddess emerging. I
wrapped the fleece around his legs, and then used my trusty stapler to close
up the seams. Trimmed the excess with my scissors, and presto magic!! They
are the ugliest looking things I've ever seen, but he did claim that they
were warm enough to make his feet sweaty, which he decided was a good thing.
(Addendum...he later noted that the staples didn't hold, and I spent three
hours hand-stitching them - not my original intention, but I could hardly
deny the guy, right)??

Obviously, not much going on or I would not be describing our clothing
choices and breakfast menu. We saw the sun today, for the first time in 5
days. We've spent 4 days shrouded in a blanket of fog, that made watch
keeping feel absolutely futile. We've seen a couple more ships. And we
caught and lost an albacore tuna (not winning any awards there either),
which we are grieving.

We also did a mid-ocean service of our port genoa winch.

At least we're getting lots of sleep...

-----
Today's noon report:
Position: 39-52N, 166-22W
1589 nm to Sitka, Alaska
2627 travelled so far
Ave spd 4.8 knots
24 hr DOG: 112 nm
24 hr DMG: 108 nm
Course: 040T
Speed: 4.5 knots

Daily position reports:
http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/tracker.php?ident=V73TN

Day 20 - 1/2 Way to Sitka

Today is May 27, our 20th day at sea, and we're 1/2 way to Sitka Alaska!!
Aboard the good ship Renova, we'll take that as an excuse for a party. A
chocolate party, that is!! Before leaving Majuro, we bought each other
little gift packages that we could open for our 1/2 way point. Majuro isn't
exactly a shopping meca, and it wasn't surprising that when we each opened
our gifts, we were treated to chocolates! Needless to say, it was a good
day, and the snack cupboard has been refilled!

We rounded out the celebrations by having hot, fresh water sink baths,
changing the sheets on the bunk, and eating the last of our frozen chicken.
I know, I can see it now. You're shaking your head at our crazy party animal
antics. Ok ok. We'll calm down.

Let's hope we do the next 1000 miles in less than 11 days. Anyone care to
venture a guess on our Sitka arrival date?

---
Winds have rotated around in the last few days, coming from the South.
Sometimes even South west. Crazy, but good. We're now heading directly
east. This helps us make some good miles before moving north to colder
latitudes. But, more importantly, it keeps us below the nasty looking low
pressure systems that are roving around to the north of us. We'd much prefer
to stay on the edge of the high, if possible.

Daily position reports:
http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/tracker.php?ident=V73TN