Crossing the Pacific Ocean

flying the skreecher, the Pacific….

Leaving Galapagos after 5days,we headed south in search of wind.  We picked it up at 3 degrees South, swung a right and made our way West towards Fatu Hivu of the Marquesas. 

 We quickly settled back into our "Dogged" Watch System, four hours on and four hours off, on call 24 hours.  Once we found the wind we started out with some great mileage, averaging around 8 knots consistently.  An awesome bonus is that there is a current that carried us along at about one and a half knots all the way.

Layla doing a science activity

The kids are in a good school routine, no more seasickness all round.  I was worried about how we would cope with school work, but after the first 2 days, everyone is back on track.

Chris doing some splicing 

The screecher we bought from North Sails is a real winner, with that sail up we fly along at 10 knots plus.  So glad Joe recommended it and Chris got it together, get one if you are planning on sailing the Pacific!

Day six at sea, 1000 miles down, 2000 to go.  Sitting on a night watch doing the Downwind Dash across the South Pacific.  The spinnaker lifts her skirt to give me a glimpse of the orange sickle moon hanging in the purple sky, its beams reflecting off the rippling ocean.  The stars really twinkle out here.

The kids did a bit of 'boom dragging?!", line hanging off the boom, out to the side of the boat and dragging behind…fun...

Sky high

Sky taking the plunge

Rourke up next... 

Layla enjoying the fun

last but not least, Layla's turn..

Layla having the last laugh!

My kids are so cool (what every mom says :) ) and I'm loving this space with them, no distractions, just raw family time.  They are such unique individuals, I wonder what effect this experience will have on their future.  Rourke is into learning all the sail changes. I just glanced at our speed over ground, 12.4knots, like I said downwind dash!  Skyla has our tummies full of baked goods and Layla keeps the morale high with her sense of humor and helpfulness.

As avid readers we are all plowing through book after book.

Day 8.  Rourke made pizza for dinner and I'm about to go on watch.  We had the spinnaker up for 3 days and 2 nights and the wind just got stronger (25 to 30 knots) so we decided to take it down, difficult to sleep when you're almost always falling off your bed.  A crazy ride.  Now sailing under main sail and genoa, slowed down for a good nights sleep in between watches that is.  Desperate for a run…

Rourke's galley skills, delish!

Day 12.  2200 miles in our wake.  On night watch, spinnaker sailing the moon path.  A comfortable joyride.  Speed over ground averaging 9 to 12 knots.  Top speed 17.3 knots, frikkin awesome.  For a fully loaded cruising cat, we be speeding!  

Chris repairing the spinnaker 

Chris waaay up there at sea, sorting stuff out

Listening to JonnyGuy www.jonnyguy.com  Speaking of music, we've got some instruments on board.  Rourke on the harmonica. Sky and I on the guitar and bongo drums.  Layla on the keyboard and Chris plays the fool…he he, actually he has recently found his opera voice!  I think its all in the beard, the longer it grows the stronger his voice becomes. (Haven't quite figured out if it's the beard or the hair?)

First sighting of land coming up...