Hi All,
Wow…..thanks for all the Birthday wishes…..I feel the luv way out here by our lonesomes!!!! Modern technology is awesome…..when it all works:)))))
So, how was the birthday…well, it is not over….now I get to celebrate the actual day I was born…..this dateline thingee is crazy…but I’m liking it again today:))))
Not too bad of a day but the previous 2 days spoiled us. We had 10-15kts WNW headseas for most of the day ….seas built to 3′ wind chop….just enough to give us some bounces and to get salt/spray everywhere!!!
Towards late afternoon and evening the winds backed to W then SW and calmed to <5 kts…..the seas calmed and the swell is significantly reduced to <3′
Now that is trawler weather for sure…..sweet as!!!!
The day was relaxing….nap, read, nap, read and fish, but not catch…..whaaaaaa!! The weather has been iffy the past 24 hours…..and we fought a huge counter current….down to 6.6 kts for most of the day…..Neptune forgot it was my BD:((((
But she is making up for it right now….here’s raising my coffee cup to you!!!!
Beautiful sunset last night and right now the moon has just risen….half moon and bright as day with no clouds….I can go outside…..break out in song….yes, just for you Neptune….and see the Big Dipper and Southern Cross in one sky…..now that is livin the good life…we are so, so blessed!!!
We passed 5000 engine hours today….and tomorrow we will pass 35,000 engine hours….Mystic’s definitely strutting her stuff….we had her all polished and tuned up in Auckland….looking good girl!!!!
This is the start of our 11th year of cruising…the first 3 years were part time and the last 7 full time. Mark just emailed and reminded us this is the 10th anniversary of the Selene Rally circumnavigating Vancouver island…..that is where it all started for us….the friendships made, camaraderie, the long and steep learning curve…..98% sheer joy, 2% sheer terror…..livin the good life!!!!!
Stats: May 12 1900 UTC (7:00am May 13 local time):
Position: 24 22S 170 27E
Traveled: 182nm today; 731 nm total; 417nm to go; ETA to Port Vila is Friday ~1:00pm, in time to checkin!!!
Course: 328M COG
Wind: light and variable
Waves: <1m SW swell, long period;
Speed: current speed is 8.0 kts SOG; has varied 6.3-8.2 kts today; avg is 7.7 kts for passage; 1700 RPM
Weather: 20% cloud cover this am; sea temp 76 deg F; air temp 74 deg F
Boat sightings: 0 today; 10 total
Fishing: Yes….we got both lines wet all day…..but alas no catching….whaaaaa and it was my BD too……forgot to mention I did fish yesterday afternoon but skunked again….not starting the season the way you want….arghhhhhh!!!!
Sail: down
Fuel burn: 1.04 nmpg yesterday, 1.19nmpg total; that is about on target for this higher rpm. I was hoping for better but that darn counter current burnt some extra fuel for sure. We will most likely need to slow down some after our noon fuel check today; 1700 rpm
Hope all is well!
John
Mystic Moon
GO MYSTIC GO!!!