Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 46 11.4 N 123 43.75 W, COG: Anchored, SOG: Anchored, DMG: 135 nm, Distance Traveled: 2222 nm. Wind and swell: negligible.

We are anchored near Lois Island in Cathlamet Bay; just upriver from Astoria and around Tongue Point. The sky is crystal clear and probably 60 degrees. We are at a calm cool anchorage surrounded by pine scented forest. We have come a long way. We’re here now.

The day started with the wind dying a slow gasping death. We fired up the engine and struck sail @ 33 nm from the entrance buoy. The atmosphere was particularly uncooperative. Rain, drizzle, fog and even a waterspout that never quite made it to the surface, just fizzled out. We went to “All Hands” at lunch time and set the clocks forward to Pacific Standard Time. Michael and the crew worked on the Bar Crossing checklist. The bar is serious business so we did ensured that: the hatches and portholes were shut, everyone had their inflatable harnesses on, the small boat was ready, all mechanical and electronic systems were tested, etc, etc. We had every base covered in the event of some freak swell doing us some damage (not unheard of), we are prepared. I spoke with the USCG and they gave us about as favorable bar report as we could wish for; 2-6 ft swells all across the entrance and middle ground, 7.8 high tide (depth plus 7.8 ft), wind light and variable, no restrictions. They even sent out an escort on my request.

We crossed the bar @ 1530, at the end of flood tide, perfect. The USCG surf boat ran interference for us with all the small fisherman in the channel and broke off with good wishes all around @ half way to Astoria. The Petty Officer in charge of the boat said that it was a good call on our part to request an escort. He had inquired as to why we wanted one. Basically, I told him, but, not in so many words, that if the s&*t were to hit the fan then I will have done everything in my power to deal with it. He concurred. Nature will do as she pleases, despite your best efforts. Nature was with us, today.

We began to feel the ebb tide @ 1730 as we passed Astoria, and ducked out of it around Tongue Point before it gained real strength. We feel no effects of it here. We dropped anchor at 1841, and shut down the engine. Aaahh.

There is a fun part. Want to hear the fun part? I’ll tell you the fun part. Our friend and former Mate on Lynx (she sailed with out current passenger on the summer voyage in 2004) lives in town and I got a hold of her. That’s not the fun part. She ordered pizzas and beer for us and brought down to the boat ramp just up the John Day river! Isn’t that Grand? Never did you taste such heavenly and succulent pizza or nuzzle a fresh cold beer in your entire life. Fat sated and happy, we watched Dr. Strangelove. We were in a Peter Sellers kind of mood. When it came time for lights out, let me tell you, the decks cleared like I had called for volunteers to furl the Topsail in a gale. I took Julie back up the river and bid her adieu.

As I was cruising back, I took stock of my situation. Here I am, piloting a small boat down a misty river in northern Oregon. The waxing moon is out and the stars are brilliant sparks in the clear black sky. The wind and water are calm and still, and I heard a loon. I love loons, look at my crew. I had just led, like lemmings, a crew of friends and strangers across the North Pacific ocean on a cockle shell of a wooden sailing ship. A well found cockle shell, to be sure, but a fragile thing on wide ocean. What a strange dichotomy is life. Surfing in Waikiki with my sister one week, throwing up in 8-10 ft seas in 35 -40 knot winds to swim call in the North Pacific gyre to scurrying down a mist shrouded river after dropping my friend off at some obscure boat ramp. Sure don’t learn about this at job fair in college. Well, I went to Maine Maritime Academy so I maybe read something about this life in some pamphlet. Your average high school counselor doesn’t tell about these things. Why not? These ships need crews. Camps need counselors. Outward Bound needs hands. National Outdoor Leadership School needs leaders. None of these need or require college. College does not prepare you for the real world. This and other jobs like it sure prepare you for college. How do we change the current thinking?

Of course, the folks who sailed with us are those who don’t think like most, anyway. They recognize that there is more out there than just instant pre-packaged gratification. They worked hard and pitched in. They will never forget it. Neither will we. It is a bond that lasts a lifetime. We should be awed and damn proud of we did. It is essential. We were never meant to sit on our butts and fritter away our lives. Life is too important to waste. I would say we used it wisely.

Lynx is grateful to Tim (for returning), Leslie, Maurice, Cedar, and Carmen. They made ti entirely possible to accomplish the voyage. Thank you very much, sincerely. And, I want to the thank the family and friends of our guest crew for loan of your loved ones. We do appreciate it, and I think you will find some changes, for the better. Recognize and accept these subtle differences. They are here to stay. I want to give a huge Mahalo to my crew: Michael (Mate extraordinaire), Jeremiah (Engineer of my dreams), Kerry (a brother who came out specifically to help with this voyage), Sara (Goddess of the Galley), Sam (Lynx’s Chief Boatswain), Emily (rock steady and patient), and Jim (the perfect human). They pulled through a hot, grueling and heavy schedule this season and are still smiling. Although, Sam frowns sometimes, mostly because of me. I want to thank all of our friends, new and old in Hawaii that were like angels. Tommy Tinker and Michael Foley, John Gerth, Suzette, Brian Stewart, Amy Gustavus, Bob Hoffman, Lahaina Yacht club, Lucretia and Kaneohe Yacht Club, Dave Chandler, Dan Geltmacher, Ben Wilkie and Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii were our trade winds, steady and reliable. I want to thank Jeff (the best boss ever), Cindy (office goddess) and Angela (happiness personified) for supporting us and allowing us to enjoy the islands. Mahalo. Lastly, I want to give much Aloha to Woody and Ally Woods, they sure know how to show a sailor a good time. They, along with Jeff, made sure that the crew was taken care of in Hawaii. God bless us all.

Aloha, A Hui Hou, Christopher and Lynx

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 46 32.3 N 126 58.4 W: COG: 100 T, SOG: 3.9 kts, DMG: 94 nm, Distance traveled: 2152 nm, Wind: SxW @ to N 6-10 kts, Swell: WSW 3-5 ft. We are @ 117 nm from Columbia River Bar and not moving very fast. We are on the same latitude as Sault St Marie on the Great Lakes, Les Sables Dolonne (1/2 between Bordeaux and Brest, Odessa (on the Black Sea), Korsakov (on La Perouse strait, Between Russia and Japan). We will arrive at the CRB entrance at @1300 tomorrow.

I was informed that this mornings sunrise was spectacular.

We had an fun day. We set everything. Except the starboard course; we are on port tack. ‘Tis a grand fine sight I tells ya. We were making @ 4 knots in @ 7 knots of breeze. The current helps. A beautiful sunny day with practically no wind. SWIM CALL! Only a few of us were intrepid enough to jump overboard. A thing they say you never ought to do. Jeremiah, Cedar, Kerry, and I went for a swim in the cold lonely wastes of the North Pacific. It was cold, but not lonely. We all had a very refreshing bath and as soon as we got underway again, the wind began to shift. As we gathered way, the wind slowly veered to the North. After about two hours it filled and we were running along comfortably at 4+ knots. Late in the evening the wind died. We struck all the “fancy” sails and we almost fired up the engine, when, SUDDENLY – nothing. No, wait, something, yes! Breeze! We left the Main, Fore, Staysail, Jib, Jib Topsail, and Topsail up. That gave us 4 knots. Lynx eventually managed a cool 5+ knots by midnight. Our journey will end tomorrow.

We took a noon sight today. Carmen’s latitude was 60 miles off our real latitude. Not bad for a first sight. Tim was 18 miles off, better. Maurice was 12 miles! Leslie, Cedar and I didn’t catch noon. We worked up Maurice’s sight for the experience. It is hard to take noon when you have 5 students to assist. Not too shabby for first sights.

Sailing along and enjoying our last day together. Although we have some very diverse people onboard, all in all, everyone got along quite well. Some were more dynamic than others, but, that’s the way of the world. I think that everyone learned a lot and will take something unforgettable away with them. Even if it’s just being back on shore. Never really appreciate something until you leave it behind. Humanity is never satisfied. That’s why that saying, “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” is so deeply layered and poignant.

I am sad that we are here. Some of the crew are as well. We like it out here. No strings, no distractions; community and work, leisure and entertainment, are ours to create with our own hands or minds. Personalities are more prominent and social standing is less important. Sure, there is a Captain and a Mate, but that is for the management of the vessel and crew. The society that we create is based on our character and personality. We create who we are and what we have. It is very satisfying. You know where you stand in relation to everyone else. We are sensitive to upsets and imbalances and you strive to fix the rift and not let resentment build up. It’s immediate without being shallow. Of course, life aboard is not all perfect. It ain’t utopia, that’s for sure. Last night I lathered gravy all over my succulent mashed potatoes and lovely spaghetti squash, speared a handsome end piece off the roast, dug in, only to discover it was lamb. Delicious, I’m sure, but, I am not a fan of lamb. I know, call me a philistine, but, there it is. The fly n the ointment, the monkey in the wrench. Ah well, what is paradise without some measure of frustration to recall why you have it so good. Philosophy can explain everything, can’t it?

Well, I will sign off here and deliver a last report tomorrow on the entrance festivities.

Aloha, A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 46 48.8 N 129 13.5 W, COG:065 T, SOG:9.13 kts(!), DMG: 219 nm(!), Distance traveled: 2058 nm, Wind: SxW 17-20 kts, Swell: WSW 4-6 ft. We are: 211 nm from Columbia River Bar, 209 nm from Grays Harbor, 208 nm from Neah Bay, 234 nm from Port Alberni, 292 nm from Coos Bay, 616 nm from Golden Gate Bridge, and 15 nm from the US Exclusive Economic Zone. That’s the territorial zone for the sole commercial use of the United states; fishing, oil, mining, etc, etc. I figure to arrive at the entrance Friday, lunchtime.

Jim conducted a class on Maritime Music and Associated History. It was well attended and received.

We are currently sailing under Main, Fore, Staysail, Jib, Jib Topsail, Topsail, Starboard Course, and Starboard Stun’s’l. We are making 4 kts. That’s including the .7 knot current flowing south. The wind has washed us up onto the no-mans land in between all of the weather systems around us. The wind is slowly veering (clockwise) into the north, where it belongs. However, it’s not really blowing over 8 knots. We should have @ 10-12 knots of breeze from the port beam tomorrow and we will scoot right into Astoria. Provided the bar is open. Everyone is thirsty.

The bar reports tell us that the end of the flood tide is passable. Hopefully so. For those of you who wonder why I am so concerned about this “bar”, I will explain. The River flows out of the entrance and the tides flow with and against the rush of water. This causes the sand bars to shift constantly. The ocean swells roll in and meet the river outflow and can suddenly stack up and “break” over the bar. Crossing a bar is a serious matter. The best time is to cross is just before the end of the flood tide. The depth over the sand bars is at its maximum and the water, tide and river, is sort of canceling out its effects. The ebb tide and river current create cumulative effect that, when combined with a good swell, can vicious currents, 9+ knots, and breaking seas. You don’t want that. Watching the Columbia bar during rough weather is a real eye-opener. If you’re lucky, you might view the Coast Guard Heavy Weather Coxswain School boats out training the next generation of boat-handlers. This is some of the roughest surf in the world, in the winter. The Coast Guard sends the students out in their surf boats, they can roll 360 degrees, and bashes them about while learning rescue and boat-handling techniques. Astounding to behold.

Enchiladas, beans and rice for dinner. We do eat well. Sara loves us.

Jeff (my boss) and I are communicating about the plans for arrival and hopefully we will have it all sketched out tomorrow. We are almost there. Stay on target.

Aloha, A Hui Hou,
Christopher
Big aloha to Amy in Lahaina.

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 47 32.8 N 134 20.0 W, COG: 092 T, SOG: 8.71 kts(!), DMG: 209.1 nm, Distance Traveled: 1999 nm, Wind: SxW 17-19 kts, Swell: SW 4-6 ft. We are 420 nm from Columbia River bar and @ 49 hours from arrival. According to Michael, we are south of Alaska, West of Washington and east of Asia. We are probably north of something or other.

We are positively flying along, right now, at 10+ kts with the Main, Fore, Staysail, Jib, and reefed Topsail. We are on Starboard tack with the wind just aft of the beam and we are “schoonin’ hahd” as they say in Maine. Lynx is steering easy on the helm and charging along like the thoroughbred she is. Sam did a nice class on ship rigs and sails. I did a basic weather class, yesterday.

We reefed the topsail when the wing gusted up to 26+ kts. That means that we took in the sail and reduced the area by lashing up about a third of it. Then we set it again. Jeremiah, Kerry, Sam, and Emily went up and reefed her down in the “breeze”. They had fun. I turned Lynx downwind to reduce the apparent wind. If we are flying along at 8 knots and the wind is 23, when run downwind then the “apparent wind” (the wind we feel) is reduced by 8 kts. So, they only felt @ 15 kts of wind up aloft. Capisce? Bene.

I have to tell you, it sure is exhilarating standing at the helm feeling 118 tons surging along at 10 knots. That’s @ 11.5 mph. It may not seem fast, but try to remember the last time you went downhill on a bicycle, fast. You are not in total control, gravity is. Sure you can slow down, but the thrill is the giving over your “handle” on things. Imagine doing this with a 118 ton ship that is in the grip of unrelenting and irrepressible wind. Oh, throw in some 5-8 foot following seas as well. In the dark. At 4 am. That’s our idea of a good time. Look Ma, No Hands!

Dinner was a real hoot. Try to eat spaghetti and sauce with the ship tossing and listing to port @ 10-15+ degrees. That may not sound like a lot, but, it is in constant motion. A 20 degree list ‘Feels Like The World is Going Over’. Try eating, drinking, holding your plate and glass, holding your seat, minding every other thing on the table while off-roading in the back of an RV. Sure does create a healthy appetite, not knowing if your next mouthful might end up in someone elses maw, or lap. Kind of puts a keen edge on your hunger.

Looks like we will arrive some time on Thursday, Aug 30th. Don’t quote me on that though, the bar may prevent us from entering. We may have to head up to Westport in Grays Harbor, Washington if that bar is open. Its only 30 miles north of Astoria (5 hours at 6 kts), and we can refuel, provision and do laundry while we wait for the CR bar to lay down. It’s a possibility. Jeff and I will keep you informed. For now though, we are Haulin’ A**!

Aloha from somewhere far North and East of paradise. A Hui Hou.
Christopher

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Todays report is energetically brought to you by Kerry, “I like big boats and I cannot lie!” Position: 47 07.5 N 138 41.47 W, COG: 034 T, SOG: 6.5 kts, DMG: 156 nm, Distance traveled: 1790 nm, Time: 13 days and 12 hours, Wind: SxW @ 17-20 kts (!), Swell: SW @ 4-6 ft. We are: 599.4 nm from Astoria on a course of 071 T and ETA of 4 d 23 h 36 m at 5 kts. We are on the same latitude as St Johns, Newfoundland 3044 nm, entrance of the Loire River 4700 nm, France, Ostrov-Kuril Is (N of Japan) 2723 nm, and Gur’yev, Kazakhstan.

Get a globe and look it up. Do your mind some good. Speaking of doing the mind good, we are bowling along with a bone in our teeth. We gybed today @ 1600 at 47 41 N to a course of 090 T. We have the wind just aft of the starboard beam, and we are flying at 10+ kts in 18-21 kts of wind. WIND! Steady and true, by God! We have the Main, Fore, Staysail, Jib, Topsail, and Stbd Course set. Lynx is charging along in search of prey. Woe betide the unhappy wretch of a merchant ship that crosses our path tonight! Too bad we have our 6 pounders stowed below. They would strike their colors the instant we struck. IDLH (Insert diabolical laughter here).

Unfortunately, the fly in the tar is the crummy, chilly, drizzly weather. We make regular securite’ calls on the radio to announce our presence to the maritime world. The VHF radio has a range of up to 30+ miles. It’s a good way to keep a larger margin of error in the “soup”. Many captains hate to use the radio, at all, ever. I am surprised they just don’t unplug it and use it as chart weight. Except, the USCG takes a dim view of that concept. And, since they are more heavily armed than we are, well, I suppose we ought to, at the very least, listen. I view the radio as a tool. A very valuable tool. The cost of the electricity to run it doesn’t come out my pocket, so I don’t mind jawin’ with folks when the need suits me.

We set the clocks forward yesterday during field day. We crossed into “+9 Victor” time zone. We are 9 hours behind GMT, Greenwich Mean Time. The afternoon lost an hour of their watch. However, I am on to their crafty ways and offset the boon by having them clean until the mate was satisfied. IDLH.

Sara made a well received Sweet and sour chicken with rice. We all add ballast above the waterline these days.

We had something hit the hull this evening. A pretty resounding whack that sounded like it was right by my head. We initiated a bilge check of all spaces. Nothing, so far. We are checking bilges every half hour for this evening at least. I am sure all is well. Better to be prudent.

Everyone is good spirits. After the gybe today, everyone lounged about the quarterdeck, in the drizzle, and talked story and joked. There is a lot of laughter at meal times. Good times had by all. Even now, I hear Kerry’s watch conversing and keeping each other on the ball. Mutual support. What a concept. If more people did it, we wouldn’t have half the problems that we do. And the other half, people wouldn’t bother to whine and complain about. People tend to not make other people’s lives miserable when they feel that they are supported and appreciated. That’s why we sail. Sure, good wind and blue sky are great, and the ships are lovely. That’s everywhere, and not all the time. The community is what makes or breaks the season. I am blessed with having three seasons as Captain of ships with rock star crews who bonded and made life aboard a pleasure and not a coffin with the lid missing. Try it. Hook a brother or sister up, regularly. It just might do you some mental/spiritual good. Your friends and family are the only things you have that will see you through thick and thin. Money comes and goes, jobs come and go, but the quality people that surround you keep you up. Thus endeth the sermon.

I figure that we will reach the river bar on or about August 30th. Hopefully in the morning, to take advantage of the beginning of flood tide. That’s the best time to enter the bar. Or when it’s happy hour. Whatever.

I hope everyone is happy and well, and thanks for the wind. I see everyone did their homework. No need for a pop quiz then, eh?

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 44 58.9 N 140 47.7 W, COG: 051 T, SOG: 5.9 kts, DMG: 142 nm, Distance traveled: 1634 nm, Wind:(now) 14-17 kts from SxW, Swell: SW 2-4 ft. We are: 705 nm from Columbia River Bar, Same latitude as Bay of Fundy, same longitude as Yakutat Bay, AK,. ETA at current speed (7.3 kts) is 4 days.

Hooray! At 0800 the wind came @ 12-14 kts and we are sailing under the Main, Fore, Staysail, Port course and Topsail. We gybed (turned the stern through the wind) and came onto the port tack. We have a NW’ly current pushing us to the south. That would force us to “beat up” to windward for Astoria. So, we gybed and are now sailing on a course of 035 T @ 7.5 kts. We will sail above 46 latitude, Astoria, to @ 47.5 and turn to sail down to the river entrance. We have @ 4 days to go.

We did field day today. That means a deep clean of the vessel. Clean all those little hidden places that are missed during routine chores. She smells lemony fresh and you could feel her go “Aaaahh”. Everybody shifted bedding today as well. We carry enough linens to change every bunk, once. Feels nice.

Five minutes before supper,yesterday (I forgot to mention it) Jeremiah caught a 7-8 lb yellowfin tuna. We had it for supper this evening. It was delicious. Broiled with some secret voodoo spice Sara learned in the jungles of Haiti. Or culinary school. Somewhere. She even served a nice simple salad, 2 weeks later! How cool is that?

We have some arguably miserable weather, off and on. The watches labor under some drizzle and mist, and the lookout is kept on their toes. It is time to stow the Hawaii charts for two years (sniff sniffle). We will not sail there next summer, as we will attend Tall Ships 2008. I am looking forward to sailing up the Columbia River. I like Astoria and, although I’ve driven up and down the river numerous times, I relish the thought of seeing her from the water. We have the Portland Pirate Festival weekend @ Sep 21st. The mother of one of our students on the Oakland/Hawaii trip is director of the fair. A sort of Pirate Queen, if you will. A good time will be had by all, or suffer the consequences.

The month of September is a time of drastic change for Lynx. All of the crew will be relieved throughout the period. Culminating in Captain Craig tossing me out on my ear in Portland. Mental note to self: stay out of the used book stores, especially Powells. I will take the Amtrak Coast Starlight back to California. If you haven’t taken the train from Vancouver to San Diego, or vice versa, I highly recommend it. You have 30 days to reach your destination and, unlike crossing the pacific, you can stop and stay in the cities along the way. It’s a gorgeous ride. Get the “Superliner Roomette”, cheap and you have a place to call your own and sleep.

Enough of my shameless promotion of a wonderful and less demanding means of travel.

All is well here. Those of us who sweated in tropical purgatory are revelling in the Northwest climate. Strange people, indeed.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 43 54.2 N 143 46.9 W, COG: 059 T, SOG: 4.3 kts, DMG: 104 nm, Distance traveled: 1500 nm, Wind: negligible, Swell: WxN 2-3 ft. We are: 840 nm from Astoria, on the same latitude as Bath, ME, and on the same longitude as Suckling Bay, AK.

We certainly had a some interesting sights today. First we saw some wind. Yaaaay! Then we saw thick fog. Booo. Then we saw no wind. Booo. Then we saw the sun. Yaaay! The north pacific is living up to its name, Pacific. Not a breath of wind. The sea is calm as a mill pond. The wind sprang up again for about two hours and Kerry saw, what looked like, an overturned boat off to starboard. We pinched up into the wind and took a closer look. The “hull” was a bright salmon pink color and appeared pretty sizeable. On closer inspection, we realized that it was a dead whale, belly up. If we hadn’t just set sail and shut down, I would definitely have stopped, set up one of the swivels and opened up on it. It’s a hazard to navigation and perhaps we could have punctured it enough to allow it to sink. Next, we were looking down the bore of a large container ship, coming right at us. Earlier this morning, in the fog, we had a ship coming right at us. Now, we are in the wastes of the pacific. There is nothing out here, except us. And yet, the ships we meet are all heading right for us. Their course takes them right through us. Anyone whoever tells me that I don’t have the right to be egocentric should sail across the pacific with me. All ships cleave unto me. Except the wind, oddly enough.

Not long after the wind died, Jeremiah spied a pod of Orcas, killer whales. Willy was unavailable for interview, his agent said he was busy reviewing scripts for “Moby Dick II-The Feasting”. Unfortunately, we were not able to get much closer than a half mile. There were, maybe, 6-8 orcas, and Jeremiah saw one breach!

Michael taught a class on advanced charting and radar plotting. I put off the Cel Nav class due to lack of sun. Michael also read a selection from ‘Two Years Before The Mast’. On this day, 25 August 1843, Richard Henry Dana was tanning hides in San Diego when the ship Alert sailed into the harbor under full sail and came to anchor in fine style. Alert eventually carried Dana home.

Sara made the most excellent clam chowder with little rolls for lunch. Needless to say, there was nothing left.

It is now 0300 and we just shut down the engine. A breeze has risen from SE and we set the Topsail and Starboard Course. Jeremiahs watch, Emily, Carmen and Maurice, with help from Leslie, hauled out the starboard course and set it. A moderately complex operation in the day, but they did it at night, at 0230. Nicely done.

We are now sailing on a quarter reach, @ 068 T, on starboard tack. We are making @ 4.5-5 kts. Hopefully, it will hold for longer than a watch (4 hours).

Pray for wind, but, not to hard.

Aloha, and A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 42 48.3 N 145 34.4 W, COG: 057.8 T. SOG: 7.O kts: DMG: 169 nm, Distance traveled: 1449 nm, Wind: WNW @ 8-10 kts, Swell WxN 2-4 ft. We are: 916 nm from Astoria, @ 5 knots we will arrive in 7 days-15 hours-12 minutes, at the same latitude as Cape Blanco, CA, Buffalo, NY and Nuros, Spain. We are also on the same as the island of Takapoto, Tuamoto Isle group, French Polynesia.

Yes, we finally have something resembling wind. We were making @ 5.5 knots this afternoon, and now we are @ 4.5 kts. The breeze became worthy to sail in @ noon. We set the Topsail, Port Course and Stun’s’l. How sweet it is to have the swish of the hull flowing through the water. And not the swish of water flowing through the wet exhaust system. We may not be moving fast, but we are moving steady and silent. Hooray! We are on a course of roughly 040 M, which carries us higher than the latitude of our destination. Just in case the winds blow from a little too NE for our comfort. We can then adjust our course and still be able to aim for Astoria. We also have take into account the California Current. It flows south down the west coast. That can set us to the “southard”. Not desirable if you are pinching up into the wind, hard, trying reach a destination upwind. I hope to be North enough and West enough to allow for all those conditions.

The sky is still sullen and foggy. The weather reports say that there is fog all over the central and NE pacific.

I conducted another installment in the Celestial Nav course. I think I’m getting the hang of teaching it. The students aren’t: asleep, bored, slack-jawed and drooling, or glazed with confusion. Nobody has put a tack on my chair, yet. Tomorrow we will, weather permitting, actually try to shoot a Local Apparent Noon. The students will try to take a noon sight and then I will reduce my sight and they will follow along. Sort of a “just do it” approach. We shall see.

Right now, we are sailing along in a gray haze that feels like we have sailed out the real world and into some sort of eternal oblivion. Which wouldn’t bother me if only Sara continue making meals akin to tonight’s supper. Pork roasted with curry, spaghetti squash lentils and home made bagels (they were closer to pretzels,really). Holy chutney, Batman! It was Deeelicious!. There was not a scrap of food left in any dish or pan. Once again, the plates were licked so clean, that we just put them right back in the rack.

I read a little Shel Silverstein, ‘The Devil and Billy Markham’. Not recommended for children. Shel was interesting and diverse author. It’s best read with a southern accent.

Hope all of you are happy and well. We sure are.

Aloha, A Hui Hou,
Christopher

Aloha Shipmates,

Noon Report: Position: 41 19.3 N 148 42.2 W, COG: 062 T, SOG: 6.8 kts, DMG: 132 nm, Distance traveled: 1280 nm, Wind: negligible, Swell: WxN @2-4 ft. We are: 1085 nm from Astoria, at the same latitude as the Black Sea and Marthas Vineyard, and the same longitude as Anchorage, AK and Papeete, French Polynesia.

We had a successful Halfway Party. Folks dressed with a sense of occasion. Some formal wear, some nice casual and some whimsical were on display. I am not sure how Michael maintained his modesty with the VERY short skirt that he wore. Sam wore a tie. Emily wore a dress! Sara wore pseudo rockabilly clothing. Jim wore shorts and striped wool stockings. Jeremiah wore his Utili-kilt, and nothing else. Kerry wore a Hawaiian shirt. I wore my red hula girl bowling shirt with sarong and fake leis. Maurice wore his wool/ear flap frostbite weather cap and wife beater shirt, oh and shorts. Tim wore nice casual wear. Leslie had a lazy Sunday clothing with a ribbon in her hair. Carmen had her urban casual gear. Cedar wore khaki pants, white t-shirt and a blue baseball cap. He looked like “the Beaver”. Everyone enjoyed a delightful piece of Sara’s scrumptious rum cake. We sang some chanties and I read my ubiquitous story of the tramp steamer that carries a hold full of circus animals into the teeth of a raging storm. The animals get loose and the orang-utang reverses the throttle. It’s hilarious.

Dinner was roast lamb with mashed onion potatoes and carrots with peas. . A good day, with everyone laughing and talking story with each other.

The weather is still sullen and chill. A little fog every now and again to keep us on our toes. No wind and none in sight for a few days. Windless all over the pacific. The weather report says we’re supposed to have 10-15 kts of breeze here. I think weather liars are taking “pacific high” a little too liberally, if you ask me. Must be that liberal education system. I no longer have faith in the weather forecasters. They are dead to me.

Aloha and A Hui Hou,
Christopher
Laura, I hope you are healing well.

Aloha Shipmates, Noon Report: 40 22.6 N 151 11.9 W, COG: 010 T, SOG: 3.3 kts, DMG: 79 nm, Distance traveled: 1196 nm, Wind: WxS @8 kts, Swell: WxN @2-5 ft. We are 1225 nm from the Columbia River bar, at present speed we would be there in 15 days (half day late. We are on the same latitude as Cape Mendocino and the Statue of Liberty, and the same longitude as Homer, AK.

How the mighty do fall. What was that I said? “Sailing from here on.” Alas, it is not to be. We have the same situation as last summer, only we are in a better position, I think. The pacific high has spread out over most of the central north pacific. It has graciously extended an amoeba like appendage up towards Astoria. We are now, 9 days later, smack dab, once again, in the exact middle of the high. The only consolation is that had we gone around the high (the normal route) we would be in the same dead zone, having had the same wind (or lack) and would be 500+ miles to the west. This evening, the wind dropped to 4 knots and we fired up the engine. No wind, practically flat calm, and a sullen sky with light fog are not calculated to make a sailor happy. Now, there are those of you who probably felt your blood pressure rise at the thought of our being a half day late. That’s if we made 3.3 kts for the next 15 days. We are now making @6.5 kts and that means we arrive in 7 days. Feel better? I do. I hope we run into some wind or the high shifts, if not in our favor, then enough to allow some breeze. We don’t carry enough fuel to motor across the pacific. So, we supplement sailing with motoring. We are good with fuel, right now, if I use it wisely. We are running the cat (our engine is a Caterpillar 3306, 6 cylinder) at @1050 rpms. That is the best Speed/Fuel use setting. We seem to have a bit of current helping us along with an extra half knot.

Tomorrow is a momentous occasion. You guessed it. The Halfway Party!

We will dance and sing and rejoice and then we’ll attend the party.

Sara made a lovely turkey roast with broccoli and carrots for supper.

We got the port side quarterdeck bulwarks primed and painted yesterday. Today we will prime and paint the starboard side. The paint work is slowly but surely yielding to the steady onslaught of the crew.

Homework assignment: all of you start blowing to the west. Enlist your friends and neighbors. Those of you in Southern California, start a new exercise fad based on explosive exhalation to the westward. It could be described as a radical offshoot of yoga based on subversive scientific principles. People will flock to it. Once it becomes a class at Ballys Gym, the fad is over.

Now, get to work.

Aloha, A Hui Hou,
Christopher