Cosmos

We finally lost our wind, after 17 days of ideal sailing. We're less than 200 miles from Hiva Oa, and we don't even have enough wind to fill the spinnaker. We've run an engine for two days to keep moving. This has allowed us to run the watermaker and fill both water tanks, charge up all batteries, and run the vacuum cleaner. With no wind the seas have been flatter so we have been doing a lot of housekeeping. This is easier to do when the boat is not tossing about very much. Things like vacuuming, wiping everything down, polishing, general tidying up, scrubbing the waterline. Even way out here, where the water is crystal clear, an orange/brown scum and green moss forms on the waterline while under way. I got a good workout this morning with a long handled scrub brush attacking this mess. I just can't get away from housekeeping whether I'm helping to make Aluminum or sailing around the world, retired or not. ( I just thought I'd mention that for the benefit of my Eastalco friends. ) In spite of this spurt of cleansing energy, Captain Joe has accumulated a large list of repairs, upgrades, and general boat chores to be done at our new anchorage in Hiva Oa.

No matter what happens during the next two hundred miles, and disregarding the last couple of days, this passage has been a real treat with the "downhill sailing" and steadily improving weather (currently 89 degrees, clear sky and low humidity). A breeze is starting to pick up so we'll probably be sailing again by evening.

Yesterday we saw a ship, way off on the horizon. The superstructure was all that was visible. It only lingered for a few minutes and then disappeared. We think it was a large fishing vessel. Do you think they were pirates, spying on us? This was the only sighting of another vessel we've had since we left the Galapagos on July 31st. We're looking forward to other signs of life.

I have been spending a lot of time in the sun the last few days. It sure feels good and is helping to restore my tan, against the recommendations of my dermatologist. I think that if I look like a native, the cannibals at these islands won't place me on their menu; I know they won't find me nutritious. Speaking of food; we have two eggs and four onions left of our fresh food. This means that we have had to get pretty inventive when we cook; we are doing a good job with this. Cosmos has a tremendous store of canned food; some of which has been aboard since before Capt. Joe bought the boat, 3 1/2 years ago.

Cosmos also has quite a varied library. I have nearly read everything that interests me. We are planning to trade books with the next several cruisers that we encounter and most harbors have a 'book trading post' that we will exploit.

Some might find it interesting to know that the depths of the water on this passage has ranged from 3000 to 4000 meters. Our position on the chart during one particular evening's log entry was 4444 meters deep. A meter equals 39 inches. If you do the arithmetic, you will see that the water was close to three miles deep? (gulp)

I am having a hard time believing that I am retired. These weeks are similar to many sailing, and family, vacations that I have taken during my working years; vacations that suddenly ended one Monday morning with my boss telling me of the horrors that took place during my absence. The knowledge that this vacation will never end is slowly sinking in to my consciousness. I expect to participate in, and enjoy, my family and boating, for the rest of my days.