Archive for the ‘Nico Colomb’ Category
Well the wind is back and the motor is finally off!! With 15-20 knots of we don’t need the extra push of the engine and the sailing is fun so we are back to hand steering. At this point we are only a couple of days out and things are starting to look like home. The wind is up, the water is cold and grey and the sky is overcast most of the time with a bit of mist mixed in to the spray to make sure our foulies are still waterproof. Oh yeah we are all wearing our foulies on deck because it wouldn’t feel like home without covering every square inch of my body before going on deck. While to most people all those things sound pretty miserable, I love it. To me it just feels like home and means we are getting close. A bitter sweet feeling of knowing this adventure is coming to a close which and excitement to get back to dry stable land and my friends and family. Already planing the next adventure in my head. Until then keeping warm and dry and moving fast are the priorities
Nico
Finalment le vent est revenu et on a couper le motor!! On a 15-20 knoeuds de vent et on n’as plus besoin de l’aide du motor, on a etaint l’autopilot comme on s’amuse a barrer. La on est a plus que quelques jours de San Francisco et je commence a reconnaitre. Le vent est monter, l’eau est froid, le ciel est gris et et la brume et les eclabouse nous rassurre que nos cires sont bien etanche. Bein sur le plus on se raproach de notre destanation on se rapell que on doit se couvrir entirement avant de monter sur le pont. Pour la plus part des gens ce semblerais miserable mais moi j’adore ca. Pour moi ca me rapelle chez moi et ca veut dire que on s’approche. C’est un sentiment confilt comme ca veut dire que cette aventure se termine mais je vais retrouver le terre sec et solid et ma famille et mes amis. Je pense deja au procain aventure. mais jusque a la les priorites sont de garder chaud rester sec et d’avancer.
Nico
Back under way
Well we are off again after diving on the prop and clearing a sizeable net and line off of the prop. Those darn nets are hard to see at night.
On est Reparti
Apres avoir emeler un fillet de pech dan l’helice hier soir on a du attendre le lever du soleil pour plonger sous le bateaux pour couper et demeler. on viens de finir et on est reparti.
What to write about when things have become routine and nothing extraordinary seem to happen? I could update whenever we turn on or off the engine or when we catch a fish as they seem to be the most poignant things that happen on the day to day. Not much to report when everything is running smoothly and even the boat seems to be happy and not demanding much attention. It may sound a bit boring but that is the beauty of the open ocean; it is hardly boring. When I am not sleeping I am constantly marveling at the sights. You might call me a tourist sightseeing. Now you might be asking yourself, what sights? What can there possibly be to see but sea and sky? In truth nothing but it is so much more than that. The sea surface is ever changing; the shapes sizes and colors of the waves vary with each one that passes. The qualities of the colors reflected in the waves and in the water are fleeting, and can never be captured for more than the second they catch ones eye. But above the surface of the sea is where the real fascination lays, The Sky. Watching the sky change day to day hour to hour gives me a new found understanding of what draws men and woman to the sea. The most important and possibly fastest changing aspect of the sky is the clouds. In truth, the clouds bring beauty to all the other elements of what makes the sky so fascinating and a constant source of entertainment for me. The other pieces of the puzzle that bring the beauty to the sky are the sun the moon and the stars. Sunrise and Sunset is a sort of a religious experience that I am always sad to find I have slept through. Here is where we see the interplay of the clouds for without them the sunrise and sunset would be rather plain. It is the reflections in the clouds, the colors dancing from one cumulus to one cirrus cloud. It is the shadows and dark spots, where the clouds block out the coming light, and the rays of light shining through like a beacon beckoning one to a spot on the water. Dawn and dusk bring a special light to the sky where the last of the stars and the first of the sunlight, or vice versa, all shine through at once, playing peek a boo with the clouds which light up in billows of color. Once the sun has set and stars come out a whole new world opens up. When the moon is up it too plays its light through the clouds, lighting only those in the path of its silver rays. Meanwhile the other clouds seem dark ominous shapes looming overhead, never clear what they will bring for us. Sometimes they bring wind, sometimes they take it away, other times still they bring rain in great big buckets or in short sprinkles. Once the moon has set and the clouds leave enough clear sky to see the stars, we see a field of millions of stars bright and dim that leave no doubt as to why so many cultures have studied, written about, and told stories based on the stars. The vast expanse of night sky is punctuated about every 30 seconds with a streak of light moving across the field of tiny white dots. Sometimes these shooting stars are bright and leave a distinct streak in the sky other times they are fleeting and only last as long as it takes to turn ones head to get a better view. At the same time as the sky is lit by tiny white dots the sea around the boat fills with glowing specks in the wake of the boat. Every wave that passes brings a new pattern of bioluminescence washing away from the boat leaving room for the next. So when I say that I spend my days marveling at the sights, I do mean the just the sea and the sky but what more could I possibly take in?
Nico
Que est ce que on peut ecrir quad les chose devienent routine et il ce passrein de extraordinaire?Je pourais vous avetir a chaque fois que on met le motor ou que on attrape um poission comme il semblerais que ce sont les chose les plus important que il se passe ces jours ci. Pas grand chose a dire quand tout ce passe bien et meme le bateaux a l’aire content et ne demende pas beaucoup d’attention. Ils semblarais peuterte meme que on s’ennui mais c’est la beautet de l’ocean; elle est loin d’etre enuiant. Quand je ne dors pas je me perd dans les paysage. Vous vous demendais peuteter, quelles payisages? Que est ce qui l pourait possiblement avoir a voir saufe la mere et le ciele? En realite, rein mais c’est tellment pluse que juste ca. Le mere change tout le temps, les forms taille et colour des vages ne dure jamais pluse longtemps que l’instant qu on l’apercoi. Les reflects des colours dans l’eau et dans les vagues dure un instant et ne peut selment etre tenu dans l’instan que on le voit. Pour moi ce que il y a de plus beau est ce qui est au dessu de la mere , Le ciel. De voir les changement dans le ciel chaque jour me fait comprendre autrement ce qui attir l’homme a la mere. La parti du ciel qui est le plus formidable, et aussi celui qui change le plus rapidment sont les nuages. En realite les nuages partage, et meme ajoute au beaute de tout les autres element qui font le miracle du ciel. Les autres element qui joue sont le soleil la lune et les etoils. Les lever et coucher du soleil sont des evenment presque religiouse que je suis tojours desu quant je trouve qu j’ai manquer. C’est la ou on commence a voir le role que le nuages joue, car sans eu le lever et coucher du soleil serait un peut banal. C’est les reflect des colours et de la lumier qui joue dans le nuage qui et si spectaculair. Un foit que le soleil et coucher le ciel devient un paysage entierement different. La lune qui elle n’est pas si brilliant mais de un colour entierement different illumine quelques nuages avec ses rayons argentes tant que les autres nuages semble des forms noir et ominous qui nous amen un meteo mysterious. Quelque fois ells nous amen du vent quelquefois elle nous le vole, autrefois elles amen de la pluie soit en cords soit des petit goutes. Une fois que la lune se couche et les nuages s’ecatres un peut le ciel s’ouvre a des milliards d’etoils certains brilliant et d’autres peut visible. Ca ne laisse auquin doubt a pourquois autant de cultures ont etudier ecrit et raconteur des histoirs autour des etoils. Le champs de petit lumeir blancs et accenter par des trais de lumier qui fills a travers du ceil. Quelqefois ces etoils fillant laisse un trace imprimer dans le noirs et autrefois elles pass aussi vite qu on puisse tourner la tete pour mieux voir. En meme temps que le ciel et remplis de petit lumiers blancs la mere se decide a ce illumine aussi. Des petit points blanc se forme avec chaque vague que le bateaux passe et disparait aussi viet pour laiser la place a un nouvelle vague de bioluminescent. Et donc quand je dit que je me perd dans les paysages, oui je parle de juste la mere et le ciel mais que est ce que je pourrias vouloirs voir de plus?
Nico
Beginning the Return!
Well after an amazing week in Hawaii we are back at it this time going the other way. Hawaii was beautiful, lots of fun, everything and more than I could have hoped for in a week vacation! The return trip has proven to be a completely different animal. The first thing to note is that we are no longer racing and thus things are a bit more relaxed. However, the return trip is upwind which means the boat leans a lot more and we cannot point straight home. The second thing and possibly most dramatic change is the crew. Of the 6 who raced over only David Jon and I are returning although sometimes Juan makes an appearance. We have also gained Lindi and Angie as crew. The presence of women on the boat certainly mixes things up a bit. Both Jon and David seem thrilled to have their girlfriends along and for both couples this is the first trip of this kind together! Being only 5 and having 2 couples has changed up the watch schedule quite a bit. We are also allowing for 2 people on deck as we are no longer racing which allows for longer off watches the current schedule is 4hrs on and 6 hrs off and seems a luxury when I wake up 4 hours into my off watch! The food is also quite different this direction as we had less time to prepare meals and more time to cook underway we are doing a lot more cooking. Right now the boat is a veritable sauna and I am still living in shorts on deck even at night ( I really need to move someplace warm) The boat is laden with about 160 gal of diesel and 115 gal of water with the assumption that we will sail to the center of the “pacific high,” the weather system that dominates our route, where there is typically little to no wind and we will motor until we hit the wind again! The weather so far looks to be favorable and has been until now. We put our #3 small jib up when we left Kaneohe Bay and have had it up since (no sharpie marks on my arm!) averaging about 5.5 knots. Some things about the trip however, remain the same the rhythm still remains Eat, Sleep, Sail. There is still a high side bed and a low side bed (though now we just go to whatever bed is open!) and our entire life has once again become about Avion, and her wants needs and whims!
Until next time
Nico
Le Debut du retour!
Apres un semaine super a Hawaii on et re parti c’ette fois ci dans l’autre sens. Un semaine sur Oahu eter une semaine de reve! L’ille est manifique les gens super sympas et les fetes de regatta etait super! Le voyage du retour est une voyage entierment different pour quelques raisons. La premier est parceque on est plus en course et donc on reviens rapidment en mode croisier et ddonc bien plus relaxe. Parcontre maintenet on remonte au vent: qui veut dire que le bateaux panche plus, bouge pluse et donc et plus difficile physiqument pour se deplacer ou fair quoi que il soit. Ca veut aussie dire que oon ne peut pas se deriger directement ou on veut on doit tirer des bords vers San Francisco. Le deuxiem changement et possiblement le pplus dramatique c’est l’equippage! Sur les 6 qui on fait la regatta seulement 3, david, jon et moi, rentre avec le bateauxles copines de david et jon nous on joins a Hawaii et viens pour le retour! D’avoirs des femmes et des couples abord change largement l’ambiance et la morale abord! Pour les deux couples c’est la premier fois que il font un voyage tell ensemble donc ils ajuste comme il faut mais tout se passe tres bien! D’etre 5 abord et d’avoir deux couples et le faite que on est plus en course change le systeme de quart. On est 2 sur le pont a la fois et on fait des quart de 4 heurs de garde et 6 heurs de repos pour moi ca semble le grand lux quand je me reveille apr 4 heurs de repos et j’ai encore deux heurs! La norriture est aussie largement different, comme a Hawaii on n’as pas eu beaucoup de temps pours prepares des repas et on a plus de temps pour cusinier abord on a achetter les ingredients qui l fallait et oon cusine avec ce que il y a! et c’est tojours delicieux! A ce moment la le bateaux et tres chaud et humide et on navigue en shorts meme la nuit ! Le bateaux et charger de 605l de diesel et 435l d’eau on a autant de diesel sous l’assumption que on va naviguer a la voile jusque au centre du “Pacific High,” le system de meteo qui domine notre passage, a l’endroit ou il y a plus de vent et on va metre le motor jusque a ce qu on retrouve le vent! Jusque a present le vent et les vagues on etait favorable et la meteo a l’aire de dire que ca va continuer! En partant on a mis le #3 “pettit” foc et il y est tojouurs! Plus de mark sur mon bras! On avance a une moyenne de 5.5 knoeu. Il y a quelques chose du voyage parcontre que ne change pas! Le rhythm Dormir, Manger, Naviguer ne change pas. Il y a tojouurs un lit du coter haut et un lit du coter bas; et on est tojours au soins de Avion et de touts ses besions desires et petite caprice!
A la prochaine!
Nico
July 20, 2014 Less than 300 miles to go
Well it seems that we keep getting closer to Hawaii and yet the ocean doesn’t seem too change much. Excitement is getting high as we talk about our last full night of sailing and there seems to be much anticipation around the Mai-Tais that await us in Kaneohe Bay. Less than 48 hours to go and yet still so much ocean between us and the finish and a bit more between us and dry land. The excitement is bitter sweet. I have come to really enjoy this ocean: beautiful and blue and ever changing, but always the same. There has been some discussion about taking a leaf out of Bernard Montesiers book and say forget the finish, we are going to keep going. Of course we don’t have enough fresh water to do that but the notion seems to please all of us at least when we talk about it. Those on the boat who have family and friends waiting on the dock are anxious to be with them. I for one am looking forward to spending some time in Hawaii, visiting with the other competitors, old friends, new friends, and playing on the beach and in the warm water! About as timely as can be in the middle of writing, the call “FISH ON” comes from the cockpit we have hooked a nice Mahi Mahi just as I was thinking of what we should have for dinner. Mmmm Sashimi! Off to fillet a fish!
20 Juillette 2014 Mions de 500 Km
Il semblerais que on continue a s’approcher de Hawaii mais l’ocean na pas laire de beaucoup changer on commence a s’exciter en discutant notre dernier nuit complet aboard ce soir. Et il y a beauccoup de anticipation atojur des Mai-Tais qui nous attends a Kaneohe Bai. Moins de 48 heurs et comemme tellemt d’ocean entre nous et la ligne de finisions et encore un peut avant terre. L’excitement nes pas sans penser que je commence a vraiment aimer c’ette ocean: Mainifique blue de touts les varieties et toujour en train de changer et tojours la meme. Ca discuter de prendre apr Bernard Montesier et de dire oublie la course on vas continuer. Bien sur on n’a pas asser d’eau fresh pour fair ca, mais l’idee nous plait au moins au moment que on en parle. Ceux sur le bateaux qui on de la famille qui les attends sont anxious de les voirs. Pour moi je serais tres content de passer un bon moment a Hawaii, de discuter avec les autres participant, des vieux amis, des noveaux amis et de jouer dans le sable et l’eau chaud! Et Juste au moment ou j’ecris ca on entand le cris “POISSION” qui viens du cockpit. On viens d’acrochers un beau Mahi Mahi juste au moment que je commencer a me demender ce que on mangerais ce soir. MMMM Sashimi! Et maintenent pour decouper un poission!
July 19, 2014 A day in life of the Pac Cup
Describing what a day in life on port tack seems impossible to portray but the sun is out, the fishing line is set, I have just had a shower and am feeling great so I will give it a shot. The first part is to understand what a day means. We often find ourselves referring to things that happened yesterday when really are really referring that happened last watch, 4-8 hours ago. So assuming we are talking about a calendar day not a watch day, My day starts at 0100 my bunk mate, Kent, ever so gently wakes me up “it’s time, ” “ok” so I fall out of bed, literally, as that is the easiest way out of the slot we call bunks. First order of business is always to poke my head out of the hatch to see what those on deck are wearing so I can figure out how much, or how little gear I should put on. This varies greatly from day to day but on average has trended to less. Once on deck I am always greeted by a cheerful “good morning” no matter what time of day it might be! After checking out the current conditions and who is doing what I settle into a comfortable spot take up whatever job is not currently being occupied. Trimmer, Driver, or Vang. From then on we take one hour turns driving and switch off embellishing whatever stories we haven’t already told, and watching the moon and stars light the clouds and the bioluminescence light the the waves . After about one hour, one of my watch mates goes down to kick their bunk mate out of bed so they can get some sleep. Every set of watch mates brings a new dynamic to the cockpit keeping things interesting until it is time for me to go tap Kent. At this point it is 0500 and I am ready to sleep only waking up if the boat broaches and kicks me out of bed or if we need to change sails. At 0900 Kent wakes me again and the process starts over. At 0915 we raise an antenna for the Single Side Band radio (SSB) and listen to the position reports for all the other boats participating in the race and any other information the race committee feels like sharing with us. Usually at this time we discuss what our strategy for the next couple of days is and what course we should be steering. Also at this point someone usually gets hungry and decides to whip up some breakfast. By the time all of that has happened and I have had my hour of driving time, Kent pops his head out and tells me I am off watch. It is usually at this point as it 1300 and the middle of the day that I sit at the computer to try to understand what the navigator is looking at and write a blog entry, or at least part of one. Then I eat some lunch lay in my bunk for a couple of hours before my 1700 watch. At 1715 we once again raise the SSB antenna and listen in for children’s hour where the relative places are announced and trivia questions are asked. 2100 I go down and make dinner eat and sleep until the next calendar day. Sometimes off watches are disrupted by sail changes and watches are disrupted by emergency maintenance items but otherwise the rhythm starts to set its self. Sleep, Eat, Sail. What could possibly be better?! Until Next Time
Nico
19 Juillette 2014 Un journais dans la vie du Coupe Du Pacific
De decrir une journais dans la vie sur babord semblerais une tache impossible mais le solais brille, les lignes de peches sont mis, je viens de prendre une douche et je me sens superb doonc je vais essayer.La premier chose c’est de comprendre ce que c’est un journais. Souvent on parle des chose qui se sont passer heir c’est a dire le dernier quart il y a 4-8 heurs. Mais je vais deccri une journais comme on les compte sur terre pas en mere. Donc pour mois un journais ce commence a 0100 mon co equipier avec qui je partage un lit, Kent, me revile en douceur “c’est l’heur” “merci” donc je tombe du lit comme c’est la method la plus facile pour sortir du trou qu on appell un lit. Premier chose je pas ma tete dehors pour voir comment les autres sont habillier pour decider quois me etres pour ne pas avoirs ni trop froid ni trop chaud. Une fois sur pont on me souhaite “good morning” a n’importe quelle heurs. Une fois que j’ai evaluais les conditions, et qui fait quoi, je m’install dans un coins du cockpit comfortable et je prend charge du bulot qui n’est pas deja pris les ecoutes, la barre (qui bien sur et tout jour pris quand je monte) ou Boom vang ( la linge qui prends tension sur la boom) et de la on prends des tours a raconteur des histoirs et regarde la lune et les etoils eclaiais les nuage, et la bioluminescence eclairias les vagues apr une heure un de mes co equipier descend sortir selui qui est dans son lit, pour que lui il puis dormir un peut. Chaque noveau equipier amenne un noveau dynamique et garde les chose interassant jusque a ce que il est l’heur de reviler Kent. A ce point la il est 0500h et je suis pret a dormir. Je me revile seulement si le bateaux se couche et m’eject du lit ou il faut changer de voile. A 0900h Kent me revile et ca recommence! A 0915h on monte l’antenne pour la radio et ecoute les positions des autres bateaux qui paticipe a la course et quelques autres informations que les organizatures de la course veulle nous donner. Normament a ce moment la on discute de notre strategie pour les quelques jours qui viennes et dans quel direction il faut naviguer. Apers ca quelqun a faim et se decide de preapare un petit dejuner. Apr que tout c ace passe et je barre pendant une heur Kent sort et me dit que mon quart est fini. C’est la, a 1300h, que je me met devant l’ordinature et je essair de comprrendre ce que le navigature vois et pour quois on va la ou on va et je ecris un blog ou au mois une parti. Je mange un bout et je vais me coucher pendant quelques heurs avant mon quart de 1700h. a 1715h on remonte l’antene et on ecoute tant que les places son announcer et des question de trivia sont demender. A 2100h je descend cusinier manger et dormir jusque a la prochaine journais terreste. Quelque fois les quart libre son interompu par des changement de voiles et les quart son interompu par des tach de maintaince d’urgence mais apart ca un rhytme commence a c’etablir. Dormir, Manger, Naviguer. Il y a quois de mieux?!
A la prochaine
Nico
July 18, 2014 Gybe Ho! Life on Port
Well after nine days on starboard tack we have gybed over onto port tack. What that means is that our entire world has gone from leaning to the left, to leaning to the right. This may seem trivial at first but a few things are different. While for nine days we have all been strengthening our left arm while we drive, we now have to learn to drive with our right hand. For those of us sleeping on the low side we are now on the high side which means relearning how to sleep. It also means that the kitchen is now on the high side, dirty dishes have become much more likely to take trips across the boat. Also most of the kitchen cupboards are now on the high side making things like getting bowls and tea out has become a bit hazardous. We are now flying a symmetric spinnaker and going more directly down the waves and more directly to Hawaii this makes thee driving much more exciting as we are surfing down waves making the boat go much faster but the margin for error much smaller! Another notable change that is not a result of life leaning the other way but coincidently happened the same day is the food! Up until now we have had frozen casseroles made by Kent and his wife, usually something smothered in cheese and delicious, or frozen stews from Dragers. 2 days ago the last of the dry Ice sublimated and yesterday we ate the last casserole, chicken enchiladas! We are now resorted to nonperishable foods, which many boats resort to pre prepared dehydrated meals. Of course, with my upbringing being so centered around food, this was never going to fly! Before we left I volunteered to take charge of the nonperishable meals, reading researching and looking into every gourmet backpacking website I could get my hands on, as well as interrogating anyone who had ideas to share! I found recipes adapted them to what our needs were and assembled them into meal bags. The goal, we wanted minimal cooking as we knew the focus would be sailing and sleep. Once all the bags were filled with dehydrated veggies beans rice quinoa and potato flakes I looked at the bags and told myself there is no way that is enough food for 6 so I added a bit more to each thinking we could eat leftovers f or lunch. Well after making the first bag I think we have enough food for 15! I guess we won’t starve! I like to think what I made is better than what REI sells but that is up to the rest of the crew to decide. Until next time
Nico
18 Juillette 2014 Empanage! La vie Sur Babord
Apres neuf jours sur tribord on viens d’empanner et on est sur babord. Ce que ca veut dire c’est que notre monde qui pancher a gauche maintenant panche a droite. Ca ne semblerrais pas comme une grande affair, mais ca change quelque chose. Pendant neuf jours on a barrer avec la main gauche, et maintenent on doit re apprendre a barrer avec la main droite. Pour ceux de nous qui dormais sur le coter bas on se retrouve du coter hour et doit reaprerndre a dormir. Ca veut aussi dire que maintenet la cusinne est du coter haut, et la vaissaile et la norriture se decide de traverser le bateaux de temps en temps. La on a mis le spi symmetric et on vas plus dans le direction des vagues et plus directement ver Hawaii! Ca fait que de barrer est beaucoup plus interassant et aussi la marge pour erreur es largement reduit! Un autre changement qui viens de se passer mais n’a reins n’avoir avec l’empanange c’estt la norriture! Jusque a present on manger des plats fait d’avance par un equipier Kent et sa famme, normalment quelque chose couvert de fromage et delicieux. Il y a deux jours le reste de la glace sec (traduction direct) s’evapore et heir on a manger le dernier plat preparer Enchiladas de poulet! Maintenent on et reduit a de la norrriture non perible ce que pour la plut part des bateaux veut dire des sachet de repas deshydate. Bien sur comme j’ai ete elever bien francais, ca ca n’aurais jamais passer. Avant de partir je me suis inscrit a m’occuper des plat non perrible. J’ai lu, rechercher, demander a tout le monde qui avait fait quelque choes comme ca, et rechercher tout les recetter de randonner que je pouvais trouver. J’ais pris des recettes, J’ai adapter pour nos besoins et j’ai 10 sac de repas en sac zip lock. Le bute, de ne pas a avoir a cusinier comme on savais que on aller etre occuper a naviguer et dormir. Une fois finis j’ai regarder les sac j’ai demendeer a ma mere et mes amis et j decider que ce n’etait pas possible que il y avais asser pour 6 personnes dans chacq sac don j’en ai rajouter en pensant que on mangerais es rester au dejeuer. Et bien sur apr avoirs fait le premier dinner on en a asser pour nourrier 15! Au moins on ne deperiras pas! Apres tout ca pour ne pas a avoir a cusinier je prernds les rester d’auter repas et j’ajoute je mange et je cusine, et j’adore ca! On se demennde d’ou je tiens ca! A la Prochainne
Nico
July 16, 2014 Halfway Party
An eventful day today! The wind is up into the high teens low twenties we are flying our asymmetrical spinnakers and the boat is moving along nicely! Around 9:00 we crossed the halfway mark only 1035 miles left to go! Out here we are about as far from anything as we can possibly be although now a bit closer to Hawaii than to California. Not too much later we say our mileage left to go drop into the triple digits, 999 miles to go. Another milestone! Things are starting to get much more exciting as the wind and swells pick up, today we saw the first double digit boat speeds of the trip at 10.56 knots but not the last with 10.21and oh wait wait 10.24!!!! going onto the rocket club board (our little tally strip of who hit the highest speeds) not much later. There is a bag of goodies for a halfway party that we have yet to open as we are pretty focused on sailing the boat and all pretty tired but we will probally get out around dinner time as usually everyone is up then. We have had a few broaches which always reduce sleep time as either we are hanging on to our bunks so as to not roll out (those on the high side), or in my case (on the low side) covering up as bits of loose gear come sailing across the boat to share my bunk with me. My slashes on my right forearm have increased to 15 wait no 16 now. In our most recent broach we managed to permanently open the jaws of one of our spinnaker poles so we are now down to one pole which we better not do any damage to before we get to Hawaii. Until next time
Nico
16 Juillette 2014 Fete de mi chemain!
Un Journais pleins d’evenment. Le vent est monter dans les 17- 25 knoeuds, on a mis un spi asymyetric et le bateaux avance bien. A 9:00 on a passer mi chemain donc plus que 1917 miles a Hawaii. La ou on est on est un peut pres aussi loins de tout que on pourrais etre, saufe maintenent un puet plus pret de Hawaii que de la Californi. Tout commence a etre un peut plus amuseant avec le vent et les vagues qui commence a monter, aujourduhi on a veut les premier, mais certainment pas les dernier vitesse a plus de 10 knoeuds a 10.56 et pas longetemps apr 10.21 et attends 10.24 juste la temps qu je ecris ca. on ecris les vittesse et qui conduit sur un petit bout du bateaux que on appell le club de fussile. On a un sac de chose pour fair une fete de mis chemain que on n’as pas encore ouvert comme on et un peut occuper a naviguer le bateaux et tous un peut fatigue, mais on sortiras ca vers le dinner comme normalment tout le monde est debout a ce moment. On a reuccii a coucher le bateaux quelque fois deja qui n’aide pas avec le fatigue comme ceux qui dors soit s’accroche pour ne pas se fair ejecter du lit (ceux qui dors du coter haut) soit, dans mon cas (sur le coter bas), se couvre pour se proteger des bout d’equipment qui viens partager mon lit. Mes marques de feutres qui represent les changement de voile on monter a 15 non maintenent 16. La dernier fois que on a coucher le bateaux on a reussi a casser le bout du tongon de spi qui ne ferme plus pppour tennir une ligne on a un tongon de rechange mais il faut que il nous dure jusque a Hawaii. A la prochaine
Nico
July 12 2014 aka watch rotation # 25
Well just as we thought the wind was going to fill in it seem that the fickle wind gods and the ever changing Pacific High have decided otherwise. We are currently cruising at about 4 knots in about 5 knots of wind sigh. Every now and then a cloud with some wind comes through and things get exciting with anything form 8 – 17 knots of wind comes through and we all get hopeful that finally we will have some wind to bring us to the trade winds (typically moderately strong warm winds that are very consistent) and the sunshine. However, these clouds are short lived and we are back to sailing in light variable winds 2- 6 knots. Today we finally got to put a spinnaker back up and it seem to be holding steady. Until now we have been sailing with the jib topper mostly with a few attempts to fly a spinnaker that were short lived due either to a lack of wind to keep it full or clouds with too much wind. I have taken up a trick I learned from my sister and her friends at a party where they kept track of how many drinks they had by keeping a sharpie tally on their fore arms. I am doing the same thing except with headsail changes and I currently have 11 tally marks on my right forearm. There has been a bit of excitement when we went to check the oil last night and found a quart of oil in the bilge. The leak was resolved after a few hours of the boat being torn apart and we were very thankful for the light winds for at least the period of time we working on the engine. We are anxiously watching the weather hoping for some wind as of the latest forecast it looks like we will get some good wind by Monday. That is good news as at this rate we are in it for another 12 days, which was our prediction for the entire race. Final note the crew on Avion decided to celebrate my birthday in style! The got out saucicon cheese and crackers. Also they gave me for my birthday gift a bottle tequila by the name of Avion! Which of course we promptly polished off! All of this followed by the first really visible sunset and the most gorgeous moon rise I have ever seen
Le 12 Juillet 2012 ou plutot quart # 25
Just aux moment ou on croxais que le vent etait en train de se etablir les dieux du vent on decider autrement. A ce moment on avance a 4 knoeuds avec 5 knoeuds de vent. De temps en temps un nuage nous amenne du vent entre 8 et 17 knoeuds ety tout l’equippage espere que ca contunuira qusque aux vent de commerce (typicquement dees vent chaud et consistent) et le soleil. Malherusement, ca ne dur pas et on et rendu a essayer de fair avance Avion aux plus vite dans 2-6 knoeuds de vent. Aujourdhui on a finalment mis le spi et ils semble que ca va durer. Jusqque a present on avais le ” Jib Topper” malgrais deux essais a mettres un spi qu il non pas durer longtemps. A ce mment J’ai arde compte des changement de voiles en feutre sur mon bras droit. Heir on a eu un des avantures avec le motor qui c’est mis fuir de l’huile. On a trouver un litre d’huile sous le plancher du bateaux. On a reparer la fuite apr quelques heurs out on avias tout demonter dans le bateaux. Aux moins pendent ces quelques heurs on etait bien content des vents faibles… On regarde constament la meteo et ils semblerais que le vent vas monter lundi ce qui est bien, comme a c’ette allure on n’arrive pas avant 12 jours, ce que on pensais fair pour la course entire. Finalment ce soir l’equipage de avion on decide de me faire une petite surprise pour mon anniversair!ils on sortie un saucicon de fromage et des crackers. Et comme cadeaux ils m’ont offert une bouteille de tequila qui s’aappelle Avion quue, bien sur on a vite finis! Tout ca suivi pars le premier coucheer de soleil que on a puet vraiment voir et le plus beaux lever de lune que je n’ais jamais veux!
Thursday July 10 2014 12:16
Day 3 of racing to Hawaii but it feels like we are just starting. We had good wind to get under the gate and past mile rock, but beyond that winds got REALLY light. We made an average of 2 knots for most of Tuesday and all of Wednesday. A pod of humpback wales escorted us to the Farallon Islands and a pod of Dolphins joined them briefly to wave us off. Last night however the wind finally started up starting at around 8 knots and building to 25. We have changed headsail 5 times now starting with the, smaller, #3 jib out the gate then shifting to the, biggest, #1 jib once we were out. Fairly quickly, we shifted to the Jib Topper, a large reaching jib. Yesterday evening we put our first spinnaker up ,.75oz asymmetric, but it only lasted a few hours as the wind was building and the boat was getting a bit over powered. We now have the Jib topper back up and are making 7-8.5 knots of boat speed in 9 – 12 knots of wind and heading south west hoping to get below a small section of light wind that seems to be charging at us. That’s all for now I now have 3 hours to get some sleep before my next watch.
Jeudi 10 Juillet 2014 12:16
Notre troisem jour de course vers Hawaii mais on a impression d’avoir juste commencer. On a eu du bon vent pour passer le Golden Gate et sortir de la bai, mais apr ca le vent et tomber et on a fait en moyenne 2 knoeud pour la plus part de mardi et mercredi. On a eu des ballennes qui nous a suivi jusque aux isles des Farallones avec quelque dauphins pour nous dire au revoir. Heir soir le vent et finalment monter a 8 knoeuds et a continuer a monter jusque as 25 knoeuds. On changer de voile 5 fois jusque a present. On a commencer avec le #3 (pettit) foc pour sortir de la bai, etay puis on a monter le #1 (plus grand) foc. Assez rapidment on a changer pour le “Jib Topper” un genre de grand foc pour vent de travers. Heir soir on a mis notre premier spi, aasymetric leger, maais can a que durer quelques heurs comme le vent et monter et on commencer a avoir trop de toile. A ce moment la on a le “Jib Topper” et on avance a 7-8 knoeuds avec 9 – 12 knoeuds de vent. On se derige vers le sud west et on espere se placer aux sud de une section de peut de vent qui viennes sur nous. C’est tout pour l’instant je vais me couches pendent quelques heurs avant mon porchine quart. Pardonnne les fautes d’autrograph c’ette ordinature ne comprrend pas le francais et ca bouge.
Untill next time
A la prochanine
Nico
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