Position: 13°39.1’N 150°58.2’W | Course: 320° | Speed: 7.4 kn
Today was a day of holding on — and carrying on. The wind picked up and shifted slightly north, which meant we could no longer hold our direct course to the waypoint off the Big Island of Hawaii. With the rising waves, even crossing the deck turned into a small adventure. How our navigators ever got close to a sextant reading, must be pure tenacity!
And how Michael managed to cook in these conditions is nothing short of miraculous. Lunch was a refreshing chicken salad, and for dinner we were treated to roasted pumpkin, chicken drumsticks, and pearled barley. No words. Just applause.
As we draw closer to American waters, we’re working through the fresh produce and meats that need to be gone before arrival. And by “need to be gone” we mean: eat! Luckily, the papayas ripened at the perfect moment. Their short window of peak flavour was this morning — and we savoured every juicy bite.
This afternoon’s sailing was intense — thrilling and at times heart-pounding. We occasionally had to bear away from the wind to ease the strain. But now, as the wind softens, we’re back on course. A welcome relief.
We have about 650 miles to go. This time, we’re taking the windward side of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s slightly longer, but we learned our lesson last time — taking the leeward route left us in a windless hole for the final 150 miles.
Morale remains high. Today we finally finished our rain-themed playlist, and wouldn’t you know it — the skies have stayed dry since. The playlist included guilty pleasures like Purple Rain and I Can’t Stand the Rain, classics like Singing in the Rain, and our unlikely favorite: Taco Rain. You’ll find it on Spotify, if you’re curious.
Brad won Picture of the Day with a lovely still life of our daily ritual: the coffee and tea tray — the quiet heart of every watch.
All is well on board,
Jet
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