Author: Pete

Location: 09°50.255S’ 138°22.534W’

Date: 11:00 April 21 to 11:00 April 22

Day 23 at sea.

Woke to a gun metal gray sky today, 20 knots of wind from astern, with large rollers and chop. Made for a rocky ride. At one point our trolling line was aimed about twenty degrees up from our stern to an oncoming wave. Fishing uphill is never a good thing. Regardless, Tayrona is scooting along happily under a lone headsail, snatch block out to the side to open the sail.  Now a bit clearer.

Tried to get the boat presentable for port inspection today. Cleaned inside and out. It’s amazing how much girl hair gets evenly distributed around. Eew… The boat is, however, so much cleaner than it would be in three weeks at anchor with crew inadvertently dragging land dirt from shore on our shoes and bodies. Double eew… Sometimes there are benefits to being out at sea. The heavier seas made the task really fun. Lot of sloshing, and even a little nausea despite our weeks of training.

I feel a little torn about our arrival. This passage was one of the highlights of the whole sailing trip that I’ve anticipated the most. Three weeks plus out on the open ocean, and now we’re nearing the end of it. I’m excited to hike the green hills of Hiva Oa, eat fresh fruit and a good burger, and get back into spear fishing shape. (It’s amazing that we only swam twice in three weeks aboard!) Strange as it sounds though, after 24 days without sight of land, with onions and carrots rolling away from you while you’re trying to cook, deprivation of fresh fruits and veggies, 2AM squally night watches, and never walking more than 10 meters at a time, I’m really sorry to see it over. Man that’s messed up.

Sunrise, and landfall in six hours.