Transpac Mid Race

Dear all,

Apologies for mislabeling the date in yesterday's Subject. We completed day 9 of the Transpac and have now sailed about 1915-nm since the start with about 260-nm to go and a Sunday morning projected arrival in Honolulu. We continue to have a great time and all is well and everyone is healthy weaning shorts night and day.

Our division leaders finished last night and have placed 2,3 and 4 in the projected overall standings, which reflects the quality of our division. Our three leaders went to the "west" side of the course, a strategy that paid off well for them. Last night it again went light for us with winds as low as 8-knots. The day has been one of lighter winds and patience but breeze is now up around 10-12-knots.

Since early this morning, the forecasted weather files we are down loading from NOAA now match what we are seeing on the water in terms of wind direction and timing of area shifts, which is remarkable. Our earlier decision to race as if in a local round-the-buoys race described yesterday appears to have helped us make up some distance on one of the J/125 boats in our division during the last 24-hours. We continue to do so but presently headed West to stay in the projected breeze and anticipate gybing towards Hawaii around 0900 Saturday.

The repaired A2 spinnaker has held together and looks great. We are presently reaching along under the A2. Again, the scene is quite remarkable of a horizon empty of others surrounded with nothing but deep blue water and stunning skies. Last night was a tour de force in astronomy looking at the Milky Way and bright stars and the moon after it came up at 0116.

Yesterday I mentioned hair on the boat and that includes each waiting for the other to shave. Since no one its giving in, it appears we will be wearing beards upon arrival.

Thank you for your great support.

Credit - John Raymont