Tuesday July 15, 2008

Daily Check-In

Sparky
Time: 0900
Lat/Long: 37 37 N 125 17 W
Distance to finish: 1993
Speed: 4.3 knots

Sparky
Time: 2100
Lat/Long: 36 87 N 125 68 W
Distance to finish: 1960
Speed: 4.1 knots

After Ragtime! reported that "Sparky picked up a military-looking ball from the water. The General suggested he NOT pull the pin. Several assured him it was not a prized glass fishing float." The home crew asked him to share a little more information about the infamous "ball"...

Ruben reports:
He found the ball before this mornings check in and the whole fleet all had a good chuckle when he told them about it. He said the ball looks like a frog, so he named it "Kermit". He said he's enjoying talking to Kermit and Sparky, and it sounds like they are having some great conversations! He reports that he has also been singing. (Which is comforting to the home crew to hear since Ruben has a tendency to sing when he is happy and things are going well.)
The winds are steady now and he's moving at a good pace. Last night he got about 4 hours of sleep. He's really happy to have the Navik Windvane, as he has not had to steer at all. In fact, he says that the windvane is so reliable he has put away the autopilot completely. He spent the day today organizing his cabin. He says that he is missing his friends and family and today it dawned on him how much further he has to go! He is doing great and is really getting into the groove of things.


Fleet Reports:
(Feral) For the first time, Feral has finally had favorable winds for Hawaii. This has lasted several hours. For most of the day Feral and Sparky sailed very close to each other. It still doesn't feel like Hawaii weather; it is cold, drizzly and seas "lumpy". In fact, he said it felt much like sailing on the San Francisco Bay, except you are far out in the ocean.


-hc