Journal Entry – May 16, 2005 Pacific Puddle Jump Day 12

Author: Pam

It is around midnight and I am on watch. As I was coming on watch we sighted a ship off our starboard bow and for the first time we actually spoke to them on VHF. They were a ship bound for Venezuela, and though they spoke little English they were very friendly.

On the Amigo Net this morning we learned that Velocity (another boat that is traveling to the Marquesas) has a crew member with a potential detached retina. They were looking for medical resources in the Marquesas. We learned there is a French navy vessel that patrols the South Pacific and they may be able to help. This must be a scary time for the passengers aboard.

Today we switched our watches to Pacific Daylight Time. The day turned out to be one of our calmest days at sea so far. We had sunny skies and it was hot. We were able to make a lot of power with our solar panels. The water was a deep and beautiful blue, and it almost seems impossible that this could be the same water as the thick black and turbulent water we see so often at night. Throughout the day we had occasional clouds and we passed through our first ITCZ squall at 12:30 that was detectable on radar. It only lasted for about fifteen minutes with light rain; it is amazing how quickly these squalls move. As we approach the ITCZ (Inter topical Convergence Zone) we will see more squally weather and possible periods of fluky or no wind. The ITCZ is a band of weather just north of the equator where the Northeast and Southeast trade winds meet. This area is also often referred to as the doldrums. With only emergency access to our engine we will pass through the ITCZ just as sailors have for years, and with a little luck we will not be becalmed, but eventually there is always wind and we will pass through.

It is interesting the things you develop to entertain yourselves on a long passage. We were eating lunch in the cockpit and Pam started a game of Frisbee with a Pringles potato chip lid. We finished “A Wrinkle in Time” (the book we are reading together) and we both agree that it is much different than we remember it as children. We started our next book “The Long Way” by Bernard Moitessier who is one of the first people to circumnavigate the globe nonstop.

Today’s fish report: We are still fishless after four days of fishing. We added a little pepperoni to our lure to see if we could catch us a fish out looking for a pizza. Fish 4 – Tournesol 0.