And We're OFF!!!

I sit here in the parlor with ear buds in to muffle the sound of the generator, which runs 3 hours in morning and night for refrigeration, AC and the water maker. We are not sailing at this point; the winds aren’t cooperating with us at the moment. One minute it’s blowing 11-16 knots in the wrong direction, the next nothing and almost as if someone has literally turned off the wind switch. We have been sailing some, don’t feel too bad for us. Still waiting on those winds from the past two cyclones that were going to hit.

Life here aboard Compadre has treated us all quite well. David had a long bit with seasickness and I had my one-day of it. I had to feed the fish in order to eat the Mahi Mahi we caught that afternoon. That was all it took and now, golden. Jerry caught a bug from a kind soul that sneezed in his face when on the bus in Fiji getting our last minute checklists done. With the promise of a Gin and Tonic, he recouped very quickly! Dylan, nothing gets that man down and there’s really not much he can’t do. He can paddle alongside Compadre while coaching me and talking to Jerry on the radio. Jerry can’t hear and it’s quite comical that Dylan is letting Jerry know he has fallen off course. We’re out in the middle of the Pacific... there’s nothing to be seen for hundreds of miles, no land and Dylan, that Dylan, damn Dylan knows that we are 10 degrees off. I love it! I then grabbed the guitar, put it down by the water while he was paddling and asked so sweetly, “Can you play us a song Dylan?”

Oh the sweet sounds of laughter that end every night after a great meal…

Here are some photos with explanations with most. The photos are not at full resolution due to internet access... Enjoy my friends and remember to share!!!

Dylan and I in Lautoka going to customs to get the surfski

Smiles for miles!

So STOKED!!!

Couldn't that smile off for anything

Maneuvering

Stellar Moment!!!

Adjusting foot pedals 

Test spin

Jerry and Dylan trying to make a way for us to be able to pull the ski onto the boat while sailing along

Fiji in the background enjoying a Fiji Bitter in a Bubba's coozy 

First open ocean paddle... There was thunder in the distance and when I looked back at the boat... the first rainbow I had seen on the water!

Dylan making it look easy before we called it a night! We were on the Fiji side of Cloud Break.

The famous surf spot, Cloud Break. The island name escapes me right now, but we anchored a few miles from here overnight.

Our Mahi Mahi!!! FYI... caught an hour into my watch. HA!

He was a BEAUT!!!

So grateful and so beautiful

Sunsets at sea

Dylan in his Maddsuit... Check em out at www.maddsuits.com

Time for a paddle... This day I did ok... I did have a few "funny spells" we'll call them. 

Oh Jerry

The Stellar Madd Man

The loops that you see, that is how we get back onto Compadre. There are a series of loops on a long line that is dropped into the water when it's time to get back on. There is also an "oh shit" line that trails about 15-20 feet behind Compadre with a knot at the end for a backup if we miss the first one. We paddle on the starboard side of Compadre, throw the leash (which is lengthened and runs down a center line to the bow of the ski) to whichever one isn't paddling, then pass the paddle to David and roll off and grab the line and then help lift the stern, so David can help pull the ski up. The paddler then lieutenant Dan's it (my terminology) and pulls themselves up. It's totally like open water changes in a 6 man canoe race... on really high gunwales! 

David enjoying a little splash in the water. 

Dylan is holding onto the main line and in the background you can see our back up line. When sailing and the prop is not engaged, I like to pull myself (lieutenant Dan it) up the back line and then onto the main line. SEAL training man... 

Where she sleeps

And then... the sunsets