It's day five. Sunday May 13. We're finally getting our sea legs, but we're
certainly not produuctive people. We work to make the boat go forward. We
report our daily position via radio. We expend minimal efforts to get food
and water in us (and out). And we lie horizontally - mostly reading or
sleeping. That is it. Oddly, it isn't boring. It just isn't anything.
We're moving along well. Winds are NE, so we're heading straight north. We
hope that winds will veer to the south, so we'll be able to make some
easting. But we're not anxious yet. We want to be far enough north, that we
can go around the top of the North Pacific High. We don't want to be caught
in the windless middle.
Conditions are fine. We've got gusty wind conditions, so lots of changes
with the headsail - furled out, furled in, repeat. Swell is 2-3 meters, with
an occasional one splashing clear over the boat, turning us into a
submarine, and soaking the less-than-amused person in the cockpit. It would
be funny if we were on the outside looking in.
So that's it from us, for now. Thanks for your emails...we really enjoy
reading them. Maybe we'll be feeling more able to write emails in the coming
days.
If you'd like to follow our daily progress, you can check out our position
(which we submit by radio) at this link:
http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/tracker.php?ident=V73TN
3600nm to go... Maybe. I can't really be bothered to get up and look.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
We're Outta Here
We've cleared customs and immigration. One more dinner ashore, and then
we're setting off. First north, then east. Let the fun begin...
we're setting off. First north, then east. Let the fun begin...
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Knock-down Proof
This is one of the projects. Although the chance of a knock-down is low, we
want to be prepared. I've made mesh panels to cover the open shelves on each
side of the cabin. The plan is that if we roll over, all the items on these
shelves will remain contained, and will not become missiles flying around
the cabin. That's the plan.
Getting Ready
It's been over a week since we've been back in Majuro and Mike has flown
back to work. John and I have been working long days to get the boat ready
for the long trip back home. We expect the trip to take 40+ days, and
although we've decided to let the wind determine our landfall, we're hoping
that we land near Sitka, Alaska, allowing us to spend the rest of our summer
travelling south, before we finally reach Campbell River at the beginning of
September. We'll be ready to get back to work...if you have any job leads,
let us know!! :O)
back to work. John and I have been working long days to get the boat ready
for the long trip back home. We expect the trip to take 40+ days, and
although we've decided to let the wind determine our landfall, we're hoping
that we land near Sitka, Alaska, allowing us to spend the rest of our summer
travelling south, before we finally reach Campbell River at the beginning of
September. We'll be ready to get back to work...if you have any job leads,
let us know!! :O)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Aur Atoll for Liberation Day Celebrations
Celebrations.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
maloelap
April 23
Yokwe from the Atoll of Maloelap! We spent Saturday on the island of Taroa
in the atoll of Maloelap having arrived the night before.
We had good winds and favourable conditions on our passage to Maloelap, if
not good luck with the fish. We lost 3 fish including at least 2 big ones,
one right next to the boat and another that snapped the 250 lb test line
like it was nothing. John thinks it must have been a big game fish :-0 oh
well probably for the best as we would have nowhere to put a large catch
anyways! We did manage to catch a small Rainbow Runner. About the size and
shape of a 5 lb salmon but with a flaky white meat similar to cod, it made
for a tasty dinner that night!
Yesterday was spent taking it easy. A tour of the island by our on-board
WWII historian Captain John. John had previously explored the island and
found many of the numerous leftover bunkers, artillery guns, fortifications,
and planes. The captain had even managed to previously download survey maps
and military records to help with his future role as tour guide. I found it
quite amazing how extensive the concrete structures were since everything
was shipped in. Also surprising was the amount of damage everywhere from the
extensive bombing by the Americans. Craters are evident everywhere you
walk. In fact, the only bit of land without damage is the airstrip, which
was repaired. The airstrip was being mowed by the locals using the one lawn
mower on the island in preparation for the weekly plane arriving the next
am. Once mowed, the airstrip also doubles as the local ball field for the
kids.
From Taroa, we sailed west to Ollot. Ollot was nice and we had a quick
visit with locals to drop off our sailing permit and snorkel the 2 wrecks in
the lagoon, sunk next to each other in about 35 feet of water. There were
plenty of fish including a few large docile sharks cruising around. They
don't really bother me but there is always a bit of pucker factor when you
know they are there but can't see them. It was a great snorkel however, and
I am sad that my free diving skills will be dormant again in a few days. I
was really having fun underwater the past week and able to get down to about
60 feet. I don't even want to think about how cold the water is back home
at 60 feet!!
For the last leg of our outer islands trip we sailed west to airstrip. This
little island was a treat! Like most of the islands here it is a long skinny
crescent shaped island with a rocky coral side exposed to the ocean and a
sandy sheltered lagoon side. We were warmly greeted by the locals as we
were only the 2nd yacht to visit this island this year! We had a quick tour
and did some trading which saw the locals well outfitted in ball caps, swim
fins, playing cards, fishhooks and other "Treasures of the Bilge". In
return we scored a glass ball for John's collection, a bag of limes, and 3
tasty lobsters!! It was a great finish to our tour of the outer islands.
Next is the overnight passage back to Majuro :(
See you all very soon,
M
Yokwe from the Atoll of Maloelap! We spent Saturday on the island of Taroa
in the atoll of Maloelap having arrived the night before.
We had good winds and favourable conditions on our passage to Maloelap, if
not good luck with the fish. We lost 3 fish including at least 2 big ones,
one right next to the boat and another that snapped the 250 lb test line
like it was nothing. John thinks it must have been a big game fish :-0 oh
well probably for the best as we would have nowhere to put a large catch
anyways! We did manage to catch a small Rainbow Runner. About the size and
shape of a 5 lb salmon but with a flaky white meat similar to cod, it made
for a tasty dinner that night!
Yesterday was spent taking it easy. A tour of the island by our on-board
WWII historian Captain John. John had previously explored the island and
found many of the numerous leftover bunkers, artillery guns, fortifications,
and planes. The captain had even managed to previously download survey maps
and military records to help with his future role as tour guide. I found it
quite amazing how extensive the concrete structures were since everything
was shipped in. Also surprising was the amount of damage everywhere from the
extensive bombing by the Americans. Craters are evident everywhere you
walk. In fact, the only bit of land without damage is the airstrip, which
was repaired. The airstrip was being mowed by the locals using the one lawn
mower on the island in preparation for the weekly plane arriving the next
am. Once mowed, the airstrip also doubles as the local ball field for the
kids.
From Taroa, we sailed west to Ollot. Ollot was nice and we had a quick
visit with locals to drop off our sailing permit and snorkel the 2 wrecks in
the lagoon, sunk next to each other in about 35 feet of water. There were
plenty of fish including a few large docile sharks cruising around. They
don't really bother me but there is always a bit of pucker factor when you
know they are there but can't see them. It was a great snorkel however, and
I am sad that my free diving skills will be dormant again in a few days. I
was really having fun underwater the past week and able to get down to about
60 feet. I don't even want to think about how cold the water is back home
at 60 feet!!
For the last leg of our outer islands trip we sailed west to airstrip. This
little island was a treat! Like most of the islands here it is a long skinny
crescent shaped island with a rocky coral side exposed to the ocean and a
sandy sheltered lagoon side. We were warmly greeted by the locals as we
were only the 2nd yacht to visit this island this year! We had a quick tour
and did some trading which saw the locals well outfitted in ball caps, swim
fins, playing cards, fishhooks and other "Treasures of the Bilge". In
return we scored a glass ball for John's collection, a bag of limes, and 3
tasty lobsters!! It was a great finish to our tour of the outer islands.
Next is the overnight passage back to Majuro :(
See you all very soon,
M
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Liberation Days at Aur
April 17
We've had a wonderful time at Tobal, Aur, enjoying the Liberation Day
celebrations.
We already wrote about all the field day activities. On Sunday, a day of
church and rest, we joined the crew of SuperMario on a trip to the North
Pass, where we would do a drift dive through the pass. It was a great day -
the diving was fun, and Mike and I had a great day. John stayed behind on
Renova to fight off a cold.
On Monday, the Liberation festivities continued. We went ashore and watched
several baseball games, were served another delicious lunch and bought
several handicrafts from the local women. We returned in the evening to
watch the grand finale event...the SPELLING BEE!! All the student of both
schools (Tobal and Aur) competed for the honors. We finally left at 10:30,
and the spelling continued until after midnight. When we returned in the
morning, they had resumed the spelling contest. In total, the finalists had
been spelling for over 7 hours!! WOW.
After the closing ceremonies, the Aur residents quickly packed up and loaded
the boats to return to their island before lunchtime. The island of Tobal
became very quiet. John helped James to fix his outboard. Mike and I walked
the island with Kendra (WorldTeach volunteer that we met here on our last
visit). We all returned to Renova for a dinner of pork stirfry later that
evening - a rare treat for Kendra!
Labels: Aur, Marshall Islands, visitors, cruisers
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Party on Tabal
(April 14 - posted by Mike)
Hello from Tabal!
We arrive at Liberation Weekend here on the island and it is the local
equivalent to Canada Day and second only to Christmas. We brought with us
deliveries for the locals, some mail and care packages for the teachers, and
some supplies for James, the medical officer on the island. We spent
yesterday meeting a few of the locals and then retreated back to the boat to
do dinner with our friends aboard Super Mario. Naomi, John and I joined 2
of the girls from World Teach, Kellyn and Kendra, and Super Mario's crew,
Sylvia, Noortje, and Paolo, for steaks, baked potatoes, salad, grilled
pizza, drinks and Birthday cupcakes!!! What a treat!! A super Thank-You to
Super Mario and Paolo for hosting a great evening.
Today we went ashore to check out the local festivities. After a few
speeches, we watched the field day competition between the local school kids
from Tabal and the school kids from neighboring Aur. There were races of all
kinds including running, basket weaving, juggling, tug-of-war, and
coconut-between-the-knees races. I've never seen an entire town get behind a
single baseball game before!!
For lunch, we were served chicken and rice on local plates woven from
coconut fronds, freshly made during the basket weaving race.
People here are very welcoming and the kids are always excited to see new
white faces. After lunch, we went back to the boat for a little R&R,
including a second wakeboarding session for Mike. It's hard to believe you
can be so sore after such a short period of time. I guess I'll have to work
on my technique a bit more.
Tomorrow we plan on meeting with SuperMario and exploring a nearby reef and
doing a little diving.
Talk to you soon.
Mike
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