Day 12, incredible journey. We are approaching our destination and yet we still have so much farther to go. This is such a giant step for us. We finally seem to belong. Our induction into the machinery of being “Kroo” is subtle and surprising at the same time. We didn’t have to subvert our personalities to accomplish this. We didn’t have to abandon our “uniqueness”. We simply had to subdue these qualities until they contributed to the whole rather than distract from it. We have had to learn what the boundaries and expectations are and fit ourselves to them. What role will our personality play in enhancing the group? Man is infinitely adaptable. So is our definition of self. By learning this, we can stand on our own two feet and be self sufficient; alone or with others. This lesson, more than anything, will stand us in good stead.

Good evening Shipmates,

Noon Report: We interrupt this report with a news flash! We just took in the stun’s’l, with the wind rising 20 knots and the stun’s’l boom working hard, it was decided to reduce sail. The ship was flying along @ 8.5 knots. Of course, the wind dropped back down 14 knots straight away. We now return to your regularly scheduled Noon Report. GPS: 21 34.7 N 144 14.0 W, Avg Cs: 234 M, Avg Sp: 5.6, Days run: 135 nm, Depth: 2.75 nm, U/W: 216 hrs-82% sailing. Hilo is 600 nm away. Local Apparent noon was 1236 and Mercury was directly overhead, invisible of course. We are 1980 nm from Seattle, 12,600 nm from Lake Michigan (by waterway), 1545 nm from Lafayette, CA, and 1290 nm from Temecula, CA. These are the home towns of Tamara’s watch. The full moon is tonight.

Well, we are having a rollicking good sail. For the last 12 hours Lynx has turned a good 7+ knots. She is sailing herself like a dream. You get the sails set and trimmed just right and she hardly needs a hand at the wheel. Still on port tack, quartering breeze; P/S courses, Topsail, Staysail, and Frankenstaysail. All working hard to get us to Hilo on time. Hopefully, we will arrive on the afternoon of the 3rd. Morning would be ideal. A good clean and scrub, ourselves and Lynx! Haul the guns up out of the bilge and remount them. Set working sail. And blast Hilo for Grand Arrival.

But, never mind all that. We are here right now. A right mellow day, overcast and sunny at the same time. We are feeling the warmth of the tropics now, but it is not oppressive yet. We are getting some work done. I have started on varnishing projects and we accomplished some repair work. Sam is working hard on various and sundry jobs. We have a lot of painting to do. The tropical weather is conducive to painting and varnishing. The wood dries fast and soaks up the finish. The coats of finish dry rapidly. We plan to do a lot of maintenance.

Emily found a flying fish in the scuppers this morning, and it ended up on the hook right quick. Jeremiah is drying the wings in the engine room. We saw whole squadrons of flying fish this afternoon. That usually means some kind of predator is chasing them, mostly mahi mahi. With so much food on the wing, he ignored our hook. Sad. Today’s classes were: Hawaiian Myths and Legends-Emily, Whaling History and Blacksmithing-Jim. The kids seemed to enjoy the lessons. Jim has a way of teaching and entertaining as well. Quite something.

Today’s bead ceremony involved a lot of spiritual and emotional themes. Everyone is in good spirits and appreciating Lynx and her shipmates. I chose a bright orange bead to remind me that I am entering my chosen home waters. I love Hawaii. I wish to retire here. The bead represents the tropical sun. I can’t wait to smell the plumeria.

The Watch Officers are happy with the skills of the student crew. They have taken to the lessons and applied them well. They are integral members of their watches and go to the right lines and sails more often than not. The chores get done and everyone “talks story” and laughs. Laughter is a regular component of daily life onboard Lynx. I wouldn’t have it any other way. This job is too grand and wonderful not to approach it with a sense of fun and adventure. The shear joy of living and sailing these fine ships, and getting paid for it(!), keeps you focused on the serious and necessary side of maritime life. Indeed, the hard practical components are key to loving what we do. The sense of accomplishment in completing the safety checklist for the month, inspecting the rig, satisfying USCG requirements (trying to), all the work and training is immense.

The schedule is so full and there is so much to do, and so much to learn, that you must enjoy it. You must love it. You must laugh at yourself, your shipmates, the passengers, the office, the world. Life is too precious to squander on grim reality. This world is so huge and full of wonder that it is a constant source of amazement to me that people mind everyone else’s business but don’t bother enjoying their own. We are teaching these young adults to take care of their world, right now bounded by the hull and rigging, and in turn take care of each other. Appreciate where you are, take interest in what you do, and support those around you. Tools no one should be without. 7.8 knots and flying… Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher
PS. Lolo is “crazy” in Hawaiian. cbt

Day 12, incredible journey. We are approaching our destination and yet we still have so much farther to go. This is such a giant step for us. We finally seem to belong. Our induction into the machinery of being “Kroo” is subtle and surprising at the same time. We didn’t have to subvert our personalities to accomplish this. We didn’t have to abandon our “uniqueness”. We simply had to subdue these qualities until they contributed to the whole rather than distract from it. We have had to learn what the boundaries and expectations are and fit ourselves to them. What role will our personality play in enhancing the group? Man is infinitely adaptable. So is our definition of self. By learning this, we can stand on our own two feet and be self sufficient; alone or with others. This lesson, more than anything, will stand us in good stead.

Good evening Shipmates,

Noon Report: We interrupt this report with a news flash! We just took in the stun’s’l, with the wind rising 20 knots and the stun’s’l boom working hard, it was decided to reduce sail. The ship was flying along @ 8.5 knots. Of course, the wind dropped back down 14 knots straight away. We now return to your regularly scheduled Noon Report. GPS: 21 34.7 N 144 14.0 W, Avg Cs: 234 M, Avg Sp: 5.6, Days run: 135 nm, Depth: 2.75 nm, U/W: 216 hrs-82% sailing. Hilo is 600 nm away. Local Apparent noon was 1236 and Mercury was directly overhead, invisible of course. We are 1980 nm from Seattle, 12,600 nm from Lake Michigan (by waterway), 1545 nm from Lafayette, CA, and 1290 nm from Temecula, CA. These are the home towns of Tamara’s watch. The full moon is tonight.

Well, we are having a rollicking good sail. For the last 12 hours Lynx has turned a good 7+ knots. She is sailing herself like a dream. You get the sails set and trimmed just right and she hardly needs a hand at the wheel. Still on port tack, quartering breeze; P/S courses, Topsail, Staysail, and Frankenstaysail. All working hard to get us to Hilo on time. Hopefully, we will arrive on the afternoon of the 3rd. Morning would be ideal. A good clean and scrub, ourselves and Lynx! Haul the guns up out of the bilge and remount them. Set working sail. And blast Hilo for Grand Arrival.

But, never mind all that. We are here right now. A right mellow day, overcast and sunny at the same time. We are feeling the warmth of the tropics now, but it is not oppressive yet. We are getting some work done. I have started on varnishing projects and we accomplished some repair work. Sam is working hard on various and sundry jobs. We have a lot of painting to do. The tropical weather is conducive to painting and varnishing. The wood dries fast and soaks up the finish. The coats of finish dry rapidly. We plan to do a lot of maintenance.

Emily found a flying fish in the scuppers this morning, and it ended up on the hook right quick. Jeremiah is drying the wings in the engine room. We saw whole squadrons of flying fish this afternoon. That usually means some kind of predator is chasing them, mostly mahi mahi. With so much food on the wing, he ignored our hook. Sad. Today’s classes were: Hawaiian Myths and Legends-Emily, Whaling History and Blacksmithing-Jim. The kids seemed to enjoy the lessons. Jim has a way of teaching and entertaining as well. Quite something.

Today’s bead ceremony involved a lot of spiritual and emotional themes. Everyone is in good spirits and appreciating Lynx and her shipmates. I chose a bright orange bead to remind me that I am entering my chosen home waters. I love Hawaii. I wish to retire here. The bead represents the tropical sun. I can’t wait to smell the plumeria.

The Watch Officers are happy with the skills of the student crew. They have taken to the lessons and applied them well. They are integral members of their watches and go to the right lines and sails more often than not. The chores get done and everyone “talks story” and laughs. Laughter is a regular component of daily life onboard Lynx. I wouldn’t have it any other way. This job is too grand and wonderful not to approach it with a sense of fun and adventure. The shear joy of living and sailing these fine ships, and getting paid for it(!), keeps you focused on the serious and necessary side of maritime life. Indeed, the hard practical components are key to loving what we do. The sense of accomplishment in completing the safety checklist for the month, inspecting the rig, satisfying USCG requirements (trying to), all the work and training is immense.

The schedule is so full and there is so much to do, and so much to learn, that you must enjoy it. You must love it. You must laugh at yourself, your shipmates, the passengers, the office, the world. Life is too precious to squander on grim reality. This world is so huge and full of wonder that it is a constant source of amazement to me that people mind everyone else’s business but don’t bother enjoying their own. We are teaching these young adults to take care of their world, right now bounded by the hull and rigging, and in turn take care of each other. Appreciate where you are, take interest in what you do, and support those around you. Tools no one should be without. 7.8 knots and flying… Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher
PS. Lolo is “crazy” in Hawaiian. cbt

Day 11, On course. We have more autonomy and more responsibility. We are given less supervision and feel more integral to the life of the ship. How novel it all to have strangers trust you with their lives, so deeply. It is no wonder that this voyage began as an ordeal. That there was so much pressure to learn and perform. We needed to be “brought up with a round turn”, to use the vernacular. Sailing at night with one of us as lookout or steering is quite a leap of faith on their part. And quite a trust on ours. We find that talk is giving way from “they” to “we”. On both of our accounts. It’s not often you can take pride in being included in “we” because you earned it. Revel in it.

Good evening Shipmates,

Noon Report: GPS: 22 56.9 N 142 14.1 W, Avg Cs: 235.5 M, Avg Sp: 5 kts, Days run: 120 nm, Depth: 2.6 nm, U/W: 10 d 15 h, Hilo: 738 nm. We are 7,197 nm above the center of the earth; 3.5 times the distance from San Francisco to Hilo. Today’s Noon Report brought to you by Jeremiah: I love Our Fresh Water Pump!

Words of inspiration from our Chief Mate, Michael, last night. Anyway, they laughed at all THREE of my jokes. So there. It seems that only his watch was blessed with the dazzling beauty of the full moon last night. The old man in the moon left quite an impression.

We had an interesting day today. We are sailing under the same sail combination as over the last few days, with one exception. Michael and Sam put their cunning little heads together and inverted the “frankenstaysail” so it now sets on the main mast with the luff (leading edge) as its head, the clew is now its tack, the tack wraps around the starboard shrouds and is now the clew. It looks great and sails well. I like it.

No longer shall it be the leisure suit in our sail locker, (no offense Doug). I love my job.

I must confess that there is just as much art to teaching celestial navigation as there is to doing it. I’m not sure I was very effective in simplifying the process. It can be done, but, I could organize it a little better. The students played with the sextants and practiced “reducing the sun”. As Michael said, the sun leapt out from the clouds in time for sight reduction. We took some amazing photos of their bright shining faces, peering toward the sun like flowers. They appeared to enjoy the moment. If we get some clear sky tomorrow we will do a noon sight. The noon sight is simple and can give you your latitude and longitude. Today’s bead ceremony included beads about: the moon, reflections on the last few days, boredom (Sam couldn’t sleep last night), Cel Nav (I made a little aluminum foil sextant) and voyages past. A fairly introspective session.

Speaking of introspective, our classes today were: the crew, meaning all of us, laid out the story of how they arrived here. Why did they come on this voyage. How did they start sailing, etc., etc. Krunch took the prize, though. He opened a few eyes I can tell you. It was a nice session and the students were very sincere and satisfied with their choice to embark. They all expressed happiness with the voyage so far. I am not surprised; we have a special group of people. I am honored to be their leader.

Sometimes I seem superfluous. They all know what to do and they do it. Simple. A rare thing. Tamara tells crazy stories of dealing with people in the various maritime industry unions. It’s amazing anything gets done.

We are cruising along at @ 6 kts right now and we’re slanting in to the Big Island. Sure is nice to be here.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Day 10
Sailing, as before.
Four days without the engine is cool.
Today we continued to take advantage of the north easterly winds, sailing large. That is, with the wind on our starboard quarter, cruising practically dead downwind like the great clipper ships of yore. This afternoon’s classes included Polynesian history before captain Cook (Emily) and an intro to Celestial Navigation with fundamentals in sextant use (Christopher).

Noon Report:
GPS Position – 24 degrees 11.0 minutes north x 140 degrees 26.9 minutes west.
That put us 855 nautical miles from Hilo.
We were also 3375 miles west of the Bahamas and 5213 miles east of Taiwan, 2129 miles due south of Yakutat Bay, Alaska.
No matter where you go, there you are. Our taffrail log, which drags in the water behind us, spinning a counter mounted on the stern of the LYNX indicated that our distance traveled thru the water is 1317 miles. Let’s look at that another way: The LYNX displaces 114 tons of sea water, which works out to be 28,500 gallons. There are 73.3 LYNXes per mile. All together LYNX has pushed aside over 2 billion gallons to get us this far. To give you all another perspective, a billion hours ago humans learned to walk on two legs. A billion minutes ago Christ was teaching in Jerusalem. A billion Coca-Colas ago was yesterday. LYNX has sailed about twenty-two billion (22,015,244,520) Cokes since leaving San Francisco.

The students remain cheerful and dutiful, often helping each other out even when they’re off watch. Many teenagers would have figured out how to slack off by now but not this team. I admire them. They even laughed at both of Christopher’s jokes. When I grow up I wanna be just like ‘em.

Natural Wonders
The water out here is purple. Yes, purple. Or at least a very dark indigo owing to its depth and the constant overcast skies we’ve been blessed with. It has been cloudy every day. The weather gods are merciful to provide us with this gaseous parasol, setting it aside for sunny moments like when all the sextants were pointed at the horizon today. The full moon peeked thru the clouds in dramatic fashion tonight also. Charles, Signe, Emily and I practically gasped at the glimmer that shone over the water and our sails in silhouette.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all despite the 22 billion soda pops under our keel since last we met.

Michael

Day 9 of this wild ride.  We certainly were let in for a treat today.  There was a celebration of our arrival at the halfway point.  There were festivities and games and competitions for prizes.  We were tested on our retention of all this strange knowledge they possess.  We were encouraged to don weird costume in some kind of rite of passage.  Gifts were handed out indiscriminately.  I could find no rhyme or reason for it all.  It all appeared to be extremely primitive.   Yet they, and we, gained a certain wild pleasure from it all.  A simple letting go and experiencing the thrill of life.   What sort of society do these people have at home?  Is it happy?  Why would they travel such distances and leave home and hearth behind?   I feel it calling me as well.  What is home anymore?

Good evening Shipmates,

Noon Report:  GPS: 24 48.6 N  138 03.9 W, Days run: 130.5 nm, Avg Sp: 5.4 kts, Avg Cs: 207 M, U/W: 217 hrs, Sailing: 144.5 hrs, sailing 3 days straight.   The half way point was 1700, yesterday.  The closest point of land is now Cape Kumukahi on the Big Island; 945 nm @ 238 M.  The depth is 2400 fm (fathoms) or 2.4 nm.  Las Vegas book has at 3 to 1 arriving in time.  6 days at 6.7 knots gets us there after lunch on the 3rd.   If Las Vegas bookies knew everything, then they would all be rich and retired where we’re sailing.

Wow, this was a busy day and it sure was exciting.  Right now we are racing along doing @ 6.9 kts under Topsail, Starboard course (we gybed), Fore, Stbd stun’s’l, and Frankenstaysail; on starboard tack.  We gybed the ship @ 1400.  That means we turned the ship’s stern through the wind to put the wind on the other tack.  We are still sailing large, with wind on our starboard quarter.  We are making more westing then southing tonight.  I want to gain some ground toward Hawaii.  Tomorrow we may turn more south if we can.  We want to be on or a little south of Hawaii if possible.   The winds commie more easterly in those latitudes, but can swing to SE or even S unexpectedly.  We don’t want to have to beat, sail upwind, our way there.   Better to be in a position to have the wind on the beam or quarter.  I love the frankenstaysail, it’s more versatile than Congress, and more dependable.   Hard working and dependable, that’s Lynx.

Speaking of hard work, today was devoted the intense and backbreaking labor of celebrating our Halfway Party.  So far we still have the same number we started with.  That’s impressive.  The day started out like any other; floggings, cleaning, makeshift work, sleep, deprivation, the usual.  At noon we went to all hands and folks were invited to “dress appropriately”.  Subject to interpretation an imagination.  They only had two rules: they could use any gear on the ship – 1) You could not alter any ship’s gear permanently, 2) it had to be put back properly.  Credulity was definitely strained.

Michael: Bright clashing orange Aloha shirt and shorts with a green satin robe and fuschia sash and dive mask/snorkel.  The satin robe had hole cut for the head and when all four corners were spread out and the mask in place, he looked like swim call.  The crew undulated the green cloth to make it look like water and Michael was a diver.  Quite clever…almost, too clever.
Jeremiah:  He made helmet/face mask out of a plastic Folgers coffee can, wore a Sou’wester style cap on back ward, and wore all of our child life jackets on his arms and legs.  He resembled a sort of ex-con transformer/robot.
Tamara:  Red hair in sprouts all over her head, toga like shrouds and skirt with her stuffed octopus.  Simple yet, dashing.
Emily:  Wore a white brides maids dress (thrift shop find) with her knife belt and spike with her ratty deck shoes.  Very sleek.  Nothing like seeing a woman in evening dress hauling on lines.  shiver.
Jim: dressed as ever in his rough yet, elegant period sailors garb.  A stalwart of fashion.  Don’t worry Jim, it will come back.  Hip huggers did.
Sam: Quite fetching in his dress shirt and tie.  As soon as I saw him I said, “That’s really quite fetching.  Fetch me the baggywrinkle from the lazarette.”
Nathan:  Black plastic robe with tank top, shorts, tie and one of those little hats that old gentlemen wear and play dominoes in the park.   He was armed with what looked like a howitzer, only it turned out to be some kind of photographic device.
Signe:  Stretched herself and came as a pirate lass. Alas, we were obliged to hang her.  More presents for us!
Rebecca:  Designed and wrought a lovely tiara/crown.  Daddy’s little girl.  A blue robe and the royal koa wood paddle.  Nathan quaked at the sight of it.   He turns 18 July 3rd.  Rebecca claimed sovereignty over the birthday spanking.
Charles:  Cut a splendid figure in a thoroughly retro single piece black plastic Hefty bag with arms and head cut outs. He topped it all off with a daring straw hat and red belt.  Watch out Ladies!
Trevor: Admiral of the feet.  (I think he wears size, er, um, very large anyway) He wore the Lieutenants for-and-aft hat with gold braid and a blue toga.  Ladies love a man in uniform.
Krunch: Came as himself,  Lava lava (south seas skirt/wrap), tank top and a Guatemalan idol hanging on his forehead.
I came as Santa Claus wearing a red shirt with a hula girl on it saying “Aloha”, lava lava, slippers(flip-flops), santa hat, flowers leis and shell necklace.  My face was covered with some furry rigging stuff called “baggywrinkle”.  Made me look like a demented Santa with mange.  I had a huge burlap sack full of bags of very good chocolate and cookies.   Everybody got one.  Then we had tacos, beans and salad for lunch.  Oh yeah, everyone got a lei.  After lunch, we gybed ship.

We then did a couple of readings, Michael read from Ben Franklin stories, and I read an account of a circus breaking loose on a tramp steamer in a storm.   We then did bead ceremony.  Lots of beads denoting the mahi we caught and the gore of cleaning it.  Trevor picked a bead that reminded him of his thoughts and the effects of the last couple days.  Mine was a red ball of fluff with a little white puff ball.  We’ll always have Christmas in June together.

We then went on to Lynx history/trivia.  Charles and Nathan stole the show, with Charles edging out Nathan for the big win.  He won a get-out-of-chores pass for one watch.  We then went on to the line chase and, again, Charles and Nathan took it.  They will get Lynx posters.  The crew was then sent to shift their bunk linen.  We carry two sets of linens so we may have fresh sheets.  We wound down and partook of Neptune’s largesse in the form of some lovely mahi sautéed in butter and lemon. Yummy.  We had cous cous, salad, and roast brisket.  It’s a burden.

We toast a wonderful voyage and our fantastic shipmates.  I reminded everyone that we will never be here again.  So, remember well.  Milestones are important and you have to take a moment to properly place them in your memory and in context of your life.  We are journeying not to a destination, but a state of mind.   We have to all achieve together.  We must all grow together.  Sailing is very similar to the modern age.  Most of the work has been done.  We have the tools.   We have the knowledge.  Now we have to make it all work for us.  Just like the ship.  We don’t need to re-invent sailing.   We just need to utilize the knowledge we have to make her go.  She will go no matter what.   We have to understand how to make her go where we want to, not where she does.  I think we are too caught up in events and not directing events with foresight.   We elect people to lead and think and see the big picture and translate it into the future.  They fail miserably.  That is my job also.   What would happen if I didn’t check the weather, our position, course, the sails etc etc.  Disaster.  I have to be prepared for that too.   I am responsible and accountable.   Our leaders are not.  Pity.

So, with a sip of champagne all around and the rest over the side as thanks to Neptune for his bounty and favor, we call it a day and set the watch.   Jeremiahs watch is up first. Another long good day in a string of many.  I hope there are many more to come, for us, as well as all of you.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

PS. Thanks Woody, I appreciate that. cbt

Day 8 of our odyssey. We are finding it stimulating despite the abnormal sleep pattern. Somehow we manage to maintain spirits in the early, pre-dawn, hours. The training never seems to stop, but, it keeps us busy and the time passes. There is an endless stream of information. Knots, weather, rope, nomenclature, on top of all the cleaning and watch keeping. If we make ourselves too useful then they might threaten to keep us. I am not sure that would be bad thing.

Good evening Shipmates,

Noon Report: GPS: 26 34.7 N 136 31.2 W, Days run: 146 nm, Avg Sp: 6.0 kts, Avg Cs: 209 M, Depth: 2000 Fathoms or 2 nm, U/W: 169 hours. We are 1124 nm from Hilo, and 266 nm NW of Lynx’s position last year. Do you Know what that means? HALFWAY PARTY! Hula! Fancy dress (or your interpretation of it), Snacks, Margaritas, no, wait, that’s Mexico. Sorry. Got a little excited there.

We are halfway there. 7 Days, and making excellent time. The halfway party is tomorrow. We will have fun and games. Line chase: they get to go aloft if they give a good showing. Knot tying. Lynx History: they get a “get out of lunch cleanup” if they do well. A Lynx poster to whoever does the best of all. Maybe a Samoan style tattoo for best costume. India ink and a sail needle will do wonders to their fair complexions don’t you think? No? Oh well, it was just a thought. More on this breaking news story tomorrow.

Today’s noon report is brought to you by: Jeremiah, “Tools are neat, I like tools”. I have some uber-exciting news for all of you fans in the audience tonight. We are charging along at 8.2 kts! We are sailing large on port tack under Port stun’s’l, Port course, Foresail, Topsail, and…wait for it; the Frankenstaysail! Yet another sail not found in the Oxford Companion of the Sea. We took our fisherman staysail, a four sided sail that is set flying like a kite, and turned it on its side. We hauled the peak (one corner) up to the Main topmast and tacked (hauled down) the clew (lower corner) to the weather side of the deck, by the port forward carronade if it were still on deck. We then hung a block (pulley) on the starboard Main shrouds and “sheeted” the remaining two corners aft. With me? I know Doug is. The ship’s speed surged by a good knot. We have it set now in 15 knots and we are pulling 7-7.5 kts. We had to strike the stun’s’l, the breeze is freshening. It does make the ship want to head into the wind a little more, but that’s OK. It’s really cool. We might re-name it the “Jack-of-all-trades sail”. Love it.

Bosun and I are plotting to take the Jackyard and use it as a pole for a course stun’s’l, under the port stun’s’l. Weather permitting, of course. No pun intended. Maybe we might set it as a Main driver. Who can know what lurks in our feverish desire for more sail?

Today was a busy day. I did forget to mention that 2 days ago Signe caught a squid in her bucket. She was tossing buckets over the side for salt water to rinse down the decks. One of them contained a squid. Visions of Captain Nemo’s monstrous battle not-with-standing, it immediately went on the hook. No luck though. HOWEVER! We caught a 6 lb Mahi Mahi! It was just big enough to keep. They are gorgeous, beautiful fish. The colors are strikingly vivid. A lovely dark blue back with golden yellow sides and blue spots.

Last year on our voyage back to the Mainland we were motoring in flat clam for days. For three frustrating days, three fat mahi were following alongside just out of reach. Wouldn’t touch a hook, bait nothing. Three fat meals on the hoof, er, fin right THERE. A glimpse into being thirsty and surrounded by salt water. Well, we snatched their cousin right out of the sea and Krunch filleted him right there. Nathan tried valiantly to eat an eyeball but failed. Maybe next time? Trevor was so excited! Cooler heads prevailed. The fish will end up in a stew, not enough to steak or filet properly. Trevor is going to utilize the head somehow in his costume. I wore a flying fish hat last year. There really is nothing new, eh? The irony of all this: Emily, our one vegetarian, caught the beast. Much to the disappointment of our carnivores, the cry of “Fish On!” came during a lovely chicken curry dinner with rice and salad. Scrumptious. Krunch went on to make Cookies! The watches each have a plate.

For those of you that remember when we set the Frankenstun’s’l and we broke the pole lashed to it. Well, I fixed it. I did a scarf joint. I cut a long shallow angle on each broken and epoxied them together. You can barely see the joint. First time I did that with something round. Lined up the grain and everything. Bos’n replaced the peak halyard on the Main sail.

Today’s classes were: Marine weather fundamentals with me, and Elementary sail theory with Emily. I believe they actually learned something. It will help them tomorrow. The bead ceremony included lots of beads denoting the plotting and knot tying they are learning. Sunsets came in for the underdog for the third day in a row. Could be a contender. I made my bead out of a bit of the scarf joint. I glued the off cuts together and there is just enough of an epoxy line to see the joint. One side is polished from years of use. Kind of special.

A good analogy could be made about the joining together of the crew and students, into one “joint” effort. Glued together into an integral unit. Bound by the strength of… oh, you get the picture. They are becoming more like crew, now. They are taking more responsibility without being told. It helps that they are less awkward around the vessel. They are more familiar with the routine and her structure. No floggings, yet.

That’s all for now. Busy day and another one tomorrow. I hope they are all good tonight, Santa is watching.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Day 7 of our journey. How exactly does one experience the same thing over and over and still not experience the same thing? 122 feet by 21 feet, day in day out, never ending routine with same odd people and yet there seems to be something different every day. You get to know someone only so much and then they do/say/act in a novel way. Even we are like that. Amazing how similar we in our differences. What is individuality if not taking all the fundamental similarities and presenting them in a unique way? How different are we all, really? Does acceptance mean subverting yourself to the group? Or, does acceptance come when you and your peers recognize that your similarities are so much greater than your differences? That who you are is important as an addition, not a distinction. Sure you can stand out. Sure you can be unique. But, we all are. Finding and assimilating your place in the scheme of things is hard. Living up to it is harder. Acceptance comes when you live up to who and what you are. People recognize that you are trying to meet and exceed expectations; yours, and theirs. This crew is trying to do that with us. How novel!

Good Evening Shipmates,

Noon Report: GPS: 28 22.1′ N 134 44.0′ W, Avg Cs: 230 M, Avg Sp: 6.5 kts, Days run: 155 nm, U/W: 145 hrs, Hilo: 1024 nm = 7 days @ 7.0 kts. We are on the same latitude as Tampa, FL, Midway Is, due S of Sitka, AK, and 1091 nm W of Baja hook.

Today’s report brought to you by Michael: Humor is Serious Business. Sponsored by Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap, “Lathers White!”, since 1878. I have a bar of it in my hand, right now. What am I doing with tar soap at 2 am? It’s 2 am, why bother asking? My friend Jose gave it to me for my birthday. He is mad for anything made with pine tar. He gave to me a nice rigging tool. He is getting married on a schooner in Massachusetts this summer. He should have gotten married on a schooner in Hawaii. Alas.

Another glorious day’s run. All of it under: Staysail, Port Course, Foresail, Topsail, and Frankenstun’s’l. That Frankenstun’s’l worked very well. I say worked because we just took it in. The wind is now @ 14-16 knots. That’s the edge of acceptability for a stun’s’l. All you need is one gust of 18-20 and you break things. So, the angry mob of peasant sailors chased it out of the rig with pitchforks and torches. We are bowling along now at just less than 7 knots, sailing large (wind on the quarter). It is overcast and chilly, but the moon peeks out every now and then to check on us. Jeremiah’s watch has the deck right now. I can hear them giggling. A good sign. We now have a new peak halyard. Yaay! The crew were taking bets on when the old one would part. Not a good sign. Perhaps I should beat them more? I managed to scarf the broken frankenstun’s’l spar back together. It is straight and aligned as good as new. Only took cuts; one for each broken end. You cut an angled slice off each broken end, overlap the surfaces and epoxy the joint. That will be the spar for our much vaunted new stun’s’l we want to build.

Today’s lessons were: Michael taught Navigation 102 and Emily taught about the Polynesian navigators. It is interesting to see the fundamental differences in cultural values. Western Navigators always think, “Where am I?” The Polynesians thought, “Where is my destination?” Where you are is not as important as where you are going. Not “I” centered, but, direction centered.

They used every means at their disposal to understand how to determine the direction to their destination. Swell direction, cloud types, flights of birds, star trails, prevailing winds, etc, etc. Fascinating. You have to be in tune with your surroundings. Just like I, and the crew, we must be in tune with Lynx. Why is that pump running? Should that line be slack and flopping around? What is the lookout doing? You have to pay attention. Otherwise you get lost. The Pacific is not the place to get lost. No ma’am.

The bead ceremony was interesting. Students and crew all chose beads that reflected their watches and the lovely sailing weather. Various stories of how they enjoyed the night watch and the camaraderie. The weather has been grand for last 3 days. Mine was a not-so-pretty rectangular one with a mottled triangular corner patch. It reminded me of the frankenstun’s’l and the crazy patchwork sail combinations I try. Michael, Jeremiah and Jim know very well that we have set some eccentric canvas in our time. Do you drive the ship, or does she drive you? The answer is Yes.

Michael once again commented that we have an excellent group of students. Trevor is quiet and will surprise you. Steadfast and continuous. Rebecca is a little reticent to show off her seamanship skills. She keeps it “low-pro”. Signe is bouncy and into everything; always doing something. Charles is always trying create relations and analogies with everything he learns. Trying to assimilate it all. Nathan is just ecstatic and wants to learn everything. They all appear to get along very well. If there is any friction, it is minor or they just let it go. How fortunate we all are.

I informed the kids that in order for me to be inspired to teach them about celestial navigation and the sextant, they need to perform to minimum standards in navigation. Plot neatly and accurately on the chart. Gather all of the information for the rough log (a journal of all pertinent info for the watch, lat/long, weather, nav info, etc). They have to understand it as well. They are well on their way. I told them that a student that is interested and making an effort inspires the teacher just as much the teacher can inspire the student. I told them that I will not teach it individually. They have to perform together. If one is having an issue understanding, then speak up. Help your shipmate. Pull together. Everyone has to work together. You don’t just leave someone behind. Your life depends on them. It is in your best interest to see that they know just as much as you.

The crew members are not just here because they want to go to Hawaii. They want to learn. From Lynx, me, themselves, and the voyage itself. Jeff and I want them because they are knowledgeable, talented and Want To Learn. Desire to learn is arguably the most healthy and demanded trait anyone can possess. Anybody who has no interest in learning is by definition, ignorant. Ignorance is bliss, so they say. Perhaps that is why a lot of people in this country are unhappy? I, me, mine; gimme, gimme, gimme. Are we teaching our children not to be curious? That education is spoon fed and not pursued? That somehow teachers are 100% responsible for a child’s education? What about the parents? What About The Child? That’s who is ultimately responsible. Today, everything is short attention span theater. 500 channels, video games, buy ‘em everything, dress them like adults and treat them the same. I had a conversation with a teacher during an Ed program and she said that it’s scary how incurious the children are. That is scary. What will happen to the “American Century”? Whose fault is it? What do we do? Where do we start?

We do it here, onboard. We start by making them responsible for themselves and each other. No man is an island, right? We are all shipmates on planet Earth. The sooner we realize that, the better we will be. Thus beginneth the lesson.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

PS. Jennifer, contact Cindy at the office to schedule your school for a sail, end of July.

Day 6 of this intrepid voyage. We seem to be coming to an understanding with the Kroo. Things are much more simple now that there is more understanding of the complicated machinery. The ropes and lines make more sense. Everything has a place and it is easier to put them back properly than to hear about it later, not to mention having to find it. Stimulus/response. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Not unlike our own universe. Interesting how our worlds seem to have much in common when you strip away the strangeness.

Good morning Shipmates,

Noon Report: GPS: 29 54.6 N 132 31.9 W Avg Cs: SW, Avg Sp: 6.9 kts, Distance run: 163.8 nm.
We are: 690 miles from San Francisco, 1305 nm from Hilo, U/W for 121 hrs, Motoring for 48.5 hrs, and sailing for 72.5 hrs. Depth is 2.0 nm. This noon report is brought to you by Tamara; Have Marlinespike, Will Travel. Another day at sea unlike any other day at sea. No two are ever the same, like snowflakes. How do they know that for sure? Have they studied every one? Was there some international conference? Like for the standard Meter? I hope it doesn’t snow, at all.

We started motoring after a lot of “Am I bothering you?I’m not touching you.Am I bothering you?I’m not touching you.’ nonsense with the wind. We made some good time m motor sailing; around 8 knots. Today, around noon, we powered down and set both courses and both stun’s’ls. Yes, we set the Frankenstuns’l. The first attempt saw the wood spar that we lashed to the luff of the fisherman staysail break in half. We struck it and sent back up with the halyard tied to the tack (lower corner of the luff). So, we now have a very large, oversize triangular port stun’s’l. We have @ 12-14 kts of breeze from the NE and we are sailing dead downwind. The Main is furled and we are sailing @ 7-7.5 kts. That port stun’s’l is good for @ a knot. I dig these crazy sail combinations, man. With the propeller feathered and a good breeze we are schooning right along. Even with the foresail centered and strapped in tight, we do tend to rock and roll a bit. Not uncomfortable, mind you, but tippy none the less.

Today, being Sunday and all, Michael decided his watch should wear ties to mark the occasion. And nothing else. Ok, they still had to wear shoes. Kidding. There really is nothing like a tie to lend a certain air of formality and decorum to any occasion. Such as, say, Field Day. Field day is where we tear apart certain spaces on the vessel and deep clean. That way the grime and mung doesn’t accumulate in all the little forgotten nooks and crannies. What is mung, you ask? It is the goo and yuck that resides in corners and behind furniture. It builds up over time because mops and sponges don’t really get into corners and nooks well. As Captain Elliot Rappaport told me, “Mung is neither created nor destroyed.” Aahh, the smell of lemon oil and Clorox cleanup in a confined tossing and turning space below decks. There is nothing more satisfying. Now that Lynx has had her bath, It was time for class. The venturesome voyages of Captain James Cook; as taught by Emily. Fascinating subject, this bit of history. Cook was so well respected by all nations that, even during the acrimonious war of 1812, Ben Franklin declared that all American vessels and harbors should treat his ship as a friendly nation. War waged by people with honor and sensibility usually prevail. Reasonable people can differentiate between friend and foe. Black and white is reserved for pre-sixties television.

It is interesting to note that if Cook had pressed south by a degree or two, he would have discovered Antarctica. A man of common birth and not much influence in the class ridden society of 18th century Britain had a hard time advancing his station. James Cook managed to elevate himself in the society of every nation.

We had a few intrepid sailors, Trevor and Nathan, go out on the head rig with Sam. They went out to furl the Jib. A gorgeous sunny day, blue sky, blue water, and white canvas spread out on the Fore mast. What more could you ask for? They were both suitably impressed by the sensation of the water rushing by at 7+ knots under their feet while all 118 tons of Lynx surged along with a “bone in her teeth”. The head rig is the best place on the ship. You look ahead and there nothing but sky and water, and the limitless horizon. You glance behind and there is everything. The motion is inspiring and the feeling of power and grace surrounds you. Aloft on the yards is fine, unlimited 360 degree horizon, entire ship below you, nothing but sky above; it is godlike in a way. I’ll take the tip of the jib boom, thank you.

We have not held the line chase, yet. Sail setting and striking, classes and field all combined make a full day. Tomorrow, we will surprise them with a “pop quiz” on lines (insert diabolical laughter here). The bead ceremony was unsurprising. Lots of beads denoting the end of gray skies and spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Shutting down the motor and sailing. Mine was a sort of round wooden bead that looked like it was turned on a lathe. It has a kind of Michelin man shape to it. Anyway, reminded me of the prop spinning and then not spinning any more. I don’t tell you about the kids’ beads because they are not my stories to tell. You will hear their tale when they return.

Krunch made a nice lunch for all hands, He and I stayed on deck and drove, of Caribbean jerk pork, rice and salad. Yummy. Our supper was a delightful spaghetti bolognese with corn muffins that were soft, warm and crumbly. Delicious.

Everyone continues to get along and play well together. The students continue to study navigation and now they are starting to tie knots. Perhaps we will introduce them to the handcuff game. Calm down, you put a yard length of line, with loops on each end, on the person. Sort of like long handcuffs. The other person’s cuffs are led around the first person’s. They are now interlocked. The trick is to get out of the puzzle with out taking them off or untying them. You can keep kids busy for hours with this game. Yes, there is a solution.

4 am, dark, overcast and bowling along at @ 5.5-6 knots. A nice swell gently rocking the ship as she speeds on her way. You’re never too old to rock and roll.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

PS Laura, could you forward these to Melody and Michael? (?) hope you still have her email. if not, oh well. Hope you are well.

Day 5 of our incredible journey.  Somehow some way these strange people are affecting us in strange ways.  We seem to enjoy being cold and wet in the Stygian darkness.  Incredibly, stories told in the predawn hours are more significant in the sharing.  The labors to which we are challenged do not seem so onerous as at home.  The laughter is not feigned or exploited as we work overtime off watch.  The unpredictability of the weather and all its subsequent demands are natural somehow.  Why fight it?  Nature will have her way.  We can only deal with her, never bargain.  Home never seems to work out that way.  How much more change can we accept?  We can only follow this unknown path.  It is worthless to do anything else.

Good Evening Shipmates,

Noon Report:  23 June 07, GPS: 31 49.9 N  130 37.1 W, Avg Cs: 243.5 M, Avg Sp: 4.45 kts, Days run: 107 nm, U/W (underway) for 118 h 57 m, Hilo: 1498 nm.

We are: due west of Savannah, GA, due south of Juneau, AK, due east of Midway Is, due north of the Marquesas Is. Brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Engineer-Jeremiah; If He Can’t Fix It, It’s Broken.

Gray cloudy day on the high seas.  The current weather fax surface analysis says we have 15-20 knots of breeze.  Maybe in their donut filled break room, but not here.  There’s not much wind, but enough to justify sailing above 4 kts.  Decent breezes spring up when I consider taking in sail and firing up.  Fickle playful Mother Nature.  Keep Mommy happy.  That’s good advice.   No celestial today.  No Sun, no Moon, no nuttin’.  Warm day but no real fire to it.  We were sailing under both Courses, Fore topsail and Stbd stun’s’l.  We struck the Main sail earlier.  I contemplated setting the fisherman stun’s’l.  What’s that you say?  Can’t find it in any text known to nautical science?  Fear not, it’s a device of our own cunning.  This winter, in Oceanside, we lashed a pole to the luff (leading edge) of the Fisherman stay sail and set it as a stun’s’l.  It worked like a charm, then the wind took its Union contracted coffee break.  I decided not to set it today as the horizon was filling up with rain clouds and fine showers.  We struck stun’s’l and courses and reset the Main and Fore sails.  Just in case there any sharp winds in these rain patches.  Just as we struck and set.  The wind piped up to a perfect 13 kts and we reset the port course (wind shift). Yaaay!  Hold on, where did the wind go?  Oh well, take in the port course.  Fire up the engine and “once more ’round the pahk Jeeves.  Yew know how I luv tha pahk!”

Now we are making 8.1 kts and we seem to have escaped the showers and the wind altogether.

Classes today are Sam doing an impressive Life of a Sailor talk from our 1812 program.  Jim went into overdrive about the life, history and ranks of officers.  Clearly, they both love their subjects.  The kids were consulted on whether they would like to keep going and do our first lesson on Captain Cook.  They all said sure!  What’s wrong with these teenagers?  Who raised them?

Unfortunately, the weather was looking dreary and possibly worrisome and we started the sail evolutions above.  Afterward, Emily took them around and did a line chase.  Picking out various lines of importance and what they do.  We will “line chase” tomorrow.  By that I mean that they will line up and run to whatever line we call out and see who gets there faster; they, of course, must be correct.  Merry fun.  Perhaps we might recalibrate the radar soon.

Today’s bead ceremony was mellow.  Lots of, you guessed it, blue beads to denote: blue sky, blue water and swim call.  Michael pulled a clever one by knotting a small re-creation of the rope swing and putting a tiny bead on the end.  Much admired by all.  He’s smart…almost–Too smart.  Mine was a nice blue bead with a yellow “equator” and red and blue longitude lines.  Reminded me of the celestial fixes that put us in the right hemisphere.

I have to tell you, that once again I am blessed with a rock star crew.   That includes the lads and lasses.  The personalities mesh so well and they are so supportive of each other.  A very high level of self awareness pervades this group.  When they do something right they high five each other, and if they don’t they recognize it and motivate to not do that again.  People are trying hard.  Jeremiah chose a bead that would remind him to remember details.  How self motivated.  The cadets are asking questions and are seeking to understand things.  The crew are equally willing to teach them.  They are all relating.  Although the Aquaman versus other superheroes debate is wearing a little thin.  I don’t have any strong feelings one way or the other, but everyone knows that Superman is, well, super.   Spidey’s the average guy turned hero, Batman is cool, but, Superman would go Milli Vanilli on them.  They would sing a little, they would dance a little, and then they would never be heard from again.

While Emily was taking the young’uns around the lines, I made the comment to Michael that Emily is awesome.  He immediately replied, “Of course, she works for us.”  I high fived him.  It is true that this ship and her people attract good caring sailors and benefactors.  How could she not?  These students are sailing one of the sleekest, fastest, prettiest, sweetest handling ships afloat.  And we are going to Hawaii.  They say that the world is your oyster.  Well, Lynx is an Oyster Perpetual Rolex and her Owner, Board, Staff, Supporters, Passengers, and Crew are the pearls.

Hope you all are having a great weekend.  Much thanks to Emily’s Grandfather for his story and support, and thanks to Rebecca’s Uncle for sharing his addiction with us.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Day 4 of this interesting opportunity. We find ourselves beginning to understand the demands placed upon us. There is a place for everything and everyone. The Kroomen treat us as if we are vital to the operation of this vessel, rather than slaves to it. It is strange that we never noticed it before. What seemed a dastardly plot to carry us away into oblivion is now a coherent process of change. The details begin to sort themselves out and we are allowing ourselves to do the same. It is odd that we should ever have looked at this as anything less than a chance of a lifetime. Perhaps these Kroomen have something worthwhile after all.

Good evening Shipmates,

Noon Report: 32 38.1′ N 128 42.3 W, Avg Cs: SW1/2W, Avg Sp: 7.0 kts,
Days run: 168 nm, Depth: 2.5 nm (that’s right, nautical miles).

Tonight, we are traveling under Main sail, Port and Starboard Courses, Fore topsail, Stbd Stun’s’l, and Jib; on a starboard quarter reach. Wind is around 10 kts and we are making 4.5 to 5 kts. We seem to have struck the mother lode of ocean current. We believe that there may @ 1 knot current. There are more stars than ever were in all of creation, tonight.

Today’s noon report was seriously interrupted by an emergency swim call (sorry Uncle Billy). The wind decided to stop and smell the roses and so did we. We hove our ship to with the wind at NW, boys, and hurled ourselves overboard with the rope swing. The water is crystal clear and refreshingly cold. Those of us with the gumption to utilize the rope swing thoroughly to put it to good and proper use. Slinging sailors out into their unnatural element and landing them into their natural one. Charles was trepidatious about climbing up to the first ratboard (wooden step in the rigging). We coaxed and sometimes chivvied him up and, launch ho, away he went! Loved it, absolutely loved it. With minimal body fat, I think he never actually touched any water though before he sprang out and back onto the deck. We forgot tell him it was cold. Or did we lie? I forget. He jumped right overboard again, straight away. Some of the more adventurous souls followed my lead and went up to the 2nd ratboard, some 20 feet above the surface. Some interesting and comical faces and mid-air posturing to be seen I’m here to tell you. None of us dared the dreaded “3rd Ratboard of Death”. I saw the grisly results last year. We laughed for hours. Of such antics are legends made. There he goes; down, down, down straight into the water while the rope continues on its merry and unencumbered way. We managed to get some fair pictures for the proud parents to show when their offspring bring home a date. How delighted they will be when you pull out the family photo album! If you read the noon report above, you may have noted that we are appear to be in the deep end of the pool. Don’t you worry. This is the shallow end. We haven’t reached the deep part, yet. Just before we decided to stop and sniff flowers, some wag thought it would be a good idea to send the small boat over to a large piece of styrofoam found floating off the starboard bow. Perhaps we could take one our little wooden boats from our education program and crew them with our little rubber duckies. Then, maybe some clever sailor would take a photo of them sailing past an ice berg. Only foolish and frivolous sailors would do such a thing. The pictures Emily took should turn out nice.

It was reported that the stability letters for the toy boats should be revisited. The piece of styrofoam was rescued from a lonely fate.

I have to say that we sniffed and snuffled and snorted but we never found any roses. It was not for lack of trying. You see an opportunity to have some fun, stretch yourself out and enjoy the finer things that life gives you. The ability to notice the opportunities to revel and enjoy the spur of the moment, rather than the spurious of the moment (of which there are too many), is what keeps us alive inside. Too often do we watch TV, waste time online, or work overtime as if the last dollar printed were going out to some undeserving soul. Stop and appreciate the world when it calls says I. I have this blasphemous feeling that my death bed memories will not be about TV or late night office hours. My crew and I intend to give these children memories of a lifetime; perhaps several lifetimes.

These young adults would not be here if it weren’t for those very qualities. They are a fine, remarkable group of people. They adjust to the changing, yet fixed routine not with sullen looks, but with interest and will. Remarkable indeed.

Today’s lessons were taught by Myself, Jim and Emily. I taught rope swing 101. Mr. Rich conducted a dynamic class on the evolution ships, rigging and ships routines. Pretty captivating. Emily, unfortunately, had to bat clean up with our Lynx Ed program. Although the kids were warm and drowsy after swim call, they asked pertinent questions and absorbed the information about America, Britain and the War of 1812. Go Emily!

I managed to sweat and fumble my way through two sun lines and a local apparent noon today. The fix was not all that could be desired, but, it was reasonably on our course line. For open ocean sailing, that’s not bad. I shot Venus, Jupiter and the moon (all right, settle down). My fix was a rather large triangle @ 5 nm to a side, @ 24 nm to the NE. Again, I am not only in the right hemisphere, but, I am very close in terms of the open ocean. I began explaining the concept of Celestial Navigation and the sextant to our students. Trevor asked a very astute question that floored me. He got the concept of the running fix, quick. I have high hopes that they will all be able to take LAN and one sun line before the end of the voyage.

The bead ceremony involved a lot of blue and sparkly bits to denote the weather and everyone perking up in the presence of sun and blue water. One green bead to denote the green flash, of course (no flash tonight, cloudy horizon). Mine was a Delft pottery bead with what looked like wind arrows from weather reports, and Latitude & Longitude lines for my Cel Nav attempts. All in all a good day. Education, fun, rivolity, problem solving, stories, singing (Signe sang a traditional chantey called Mingulay Boat song). I understand some very creepy Ghost stories were told on the Mates night watch. I hear that Rebecca and Nathan told some good ones.

Thus endeth another day; another day of purgatory in a life that the crew must bear. We are stoic though.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

PS. Love and Best wishes to Laura, who has surgery soon. cbt