Day 9

Day 9 4/7/06 2:40 am
Coordinates............ 08 08.402N, 123 09.635W
Heading................ approx. 235
Boat speed..............6-7 knots
24 hr total nm .........162 nautical miles (NM)
miles total since MX....approx. 1200 nm
Wind direct. & speed....N/NE 15 - 20 knots
Swell direct. & ht .....N 3 - 6 ft.
Cloud cover.............5%
Barometer...............999

Ships Ahoy! Exciting morning when we made our rounds of radio calls this morning to get each others coordinates and realized we were within 3-5 miles of s/v Capaz and s/v Long Tall Sally. I went up top and low and behold, I could see each of them in the distance with us sandwiched between. Lawur was a few more miles to the west but still within radio range. Amazing to travel so many miles and begin to converge now. We are all keeping nearly the same track now as we all prepare together to get into position and wait for the right moment to cross the equator. There is an invisible band of sorts, called the ITCZ, inter tropical convergence zone, that lies roughly between 05N and 05S latitudes, straddling the equator. It is comprised of the area where the northern and southern trade winds die out and creates an area of little to no wind and unsettled weather. It tends to widen and narrow, move north and south as it pleases, so our goal is to find the most narrow point of it and shoot across as fast as we can. Together each day, we listen to our radio weather guy, "Don", read our weather faxes and discuss amongst ourselves when and where this should happen. Looks like we are in a pretty good spot at the moment so we will keep our fingers crossed.
Keeping things moving right along. We have kept up the same sail configuration for a while now. As long as the winds stay within this nice 12-22 knot range we are fairly comfortable. Much less than that and we really start to feel the effect of the swell as we flail around, much more than that and we might rethink how much canvas we would like out, especially at night when there is only one person up. We are set nearly perfectly on what they call the "Rum Line", or a perfect straight shot for the islands at our 235 heading. As the winds die down and change nearer to the equator that will change so we shall just see what the future holds.
Today was laundry day. Our first load for the crossing. You don't change clothes that often out here, thank goodness, therefore there isn't much to wash. Mom will be tickled to know we used our travel clothes line back in the cockpit. Worked out great. Doesn't require any clothespins, and I don't have to gear up in my harness to go forward to hang laundry on the lifelines. The added bonus is that they aren't then sprayed by salt water thus negating the entire washing anyhow.
The art project today was clay creatures. Snakes, germ creatures and beads Oh My. Unfortunately, mom let them go a little long in the oven and they are a wee burnt. We will have to try that one again.
The gang on Capaz has been the big fishermen of the trip and caught a 3 ft.+ Wahoo today. Monster fish with big teeth we hear. They have inspired us to drop the line in again tomorrow. I think up to now we have been afraid we might actually catch something. You may remember what happened last time we brought one on board. Our luck with timing, all heck with the wind or sails would break out right when the fish got on. We'll keep you posted.

until next time,
love lisa and the boys