Wind?

S/V Aspen – March 28, 2010 – Log #35
Position: 03 degrees 0.0' S 98 degrees 00' W
Pacific Ocean

Wind

Where is the wind? Aspen is searching for the legendary trade winds to
fill her sails for the journey west. But we have no wind! We are in
the Pacific Ocean, 5 days at sea and there is not enough wind to sail.
Instead we have the engine on, using precious fuel to help us on our
way. Arrrrrrh!

Oh well, we really don't need the refrigerator running anyway, right?
Admiral Maria doesn't agree with the captain on that one so we will
conserve fuel in order to power the refrigerator and keep the food edible.

Speaking of food, what do we eat onboard Aspen when we are at sea, you
might ask. Well, for the first 3 days we ate chicken soup and some
crackers. That was it.

It usually takes us 3 days to get used to the rocking and rolling of
Aspen before we feel much like eating. We don't usually get sea sick
but instead we just don't feel like eating. But after the 3 days we
once again get our appetites back and EAT!

Last night we had curry chicken, mmmmmm! Then we had salty corn beef
hash with tabasco sauce for breakfast. Lunch followed with hamburgers!!
So you see, we are eating pretty normal as long as the refrig keeps
working.

The routine at sea is never the same. Each night brings new surprises.
Squalls, wind changes, lack of wind, rain, beeping alarms, you name it
and it usually happens at night.

During the day we have a roll call with the other Rally boats. This is
when we give our position and weather. We also see how the other boats
are doing and if they have wind too. So far, 2 boats have turned back
to the Galapagos because of engine failures. A third boat has lost
their autopilot self steering but are continuing to head west.

Last night we had a quiz night with the Rally boats. One boat acted as
moderator and you were asked 10 questions. The boat who answered the
most correctly won. We answered 1 question correctly, duh. Well, it
seems that the questions were all about England and historic and current
events there. We failed pretty badly at that! We think next time we
should get to ask the questions.

How is the night sailing? Well, when you see the Southern Cross rising
in the southern sky, all seems right. A guiding light is what we need
when the darkness descends upon our little world. The bioluminescence
sprays in our wake and the dolphins still come close, but the starry sky
helps the time pass until the next dawn.

Sail on sail on Aspen...

Steve and Maria