Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The safety harness has already saved me, but it is a bloody hassle, fouling on everything.
Lay hove to for the night. First job at day break, unseize the hanks, set the jib to work. What
a great sail, perfect size, been up all day.
22
nd
Feb: Noon lat. was good, but unable to get pm lop [afternoon line of position] as land
was in the way. Am sailing about three miles offshore. Will tack out to sea again this even-
ing to clear shipping lanes for tomorrow's port tack. Worried about my attitude towards
sailing. Don't know about sailing to Hawaii. Or anywhere!
23
rd
Feb: Not a bad day I suppose, though it could have been better. I got nowhere.
Strong northerly currents and headwinds hampering my progress. Cooked ham and eggs
and toast. Slept well. Took sun sight and couldn't believe it, I had gone backwards! Oh
well….
Violent squall hit at around midday. Noticed my jib had a few rips in belly. Mended that
on a mildly heaving foredeck in the calm shadow that followed the squall, took about two
hours. Set the jib again, the wind came back, and we were off!
Sailed all night on the starboard tack. Slept well. Half a moon out, dry and warm. Lovely
night's sailing. Number one battery very flat; must run the engine today.
Decided to burn paraffin lantern in cockpit instead of mast light, it chews up too much bat-
tery power. I found that the lantern was very effective, especially at the front of the boat;
it lit up the sails and cockpit. [This was of paramount importance as I needed other boats
and ships out there in the dark to see me.] I have to sleep with the curtain drawn.
25
th
Feb: This morning I have come about now on port tack, about forty miles out to sea
in the one hundred fathom line, where reportedly a four knot southerly current runs, just
what I need. It's bad, seven days out and I haven't made much progress. Oh well, that's
cruising. Have a line out now, hope to catch a fish, as I am hungry for blood! Spent my
day naked, sunburnt in a host of interesting places. Do not use boat's head now, but have
discovered a good perch aft of the cockpit. Don't care what the dolphins see! Have an idea
for a play. On stage, a set looking like a cockpit, with old seadog Moses Matoses, self-con-
fessed poet, wise man, and comic. Am practicing the part…I am talking to myself already.
I'm answering myself as well.
26
th
- 28
th
Feb: Just lots of beating to windward. Lost countless fish; they will take hook
but just get free. Have loosened reel brake, will see how that works. I am now using a big
fishing rod I got in Hawaii from a sailor unlike the hand line that Gavin and I used on pre-
vious trips. High tech isn't necessarily better.
