Picture Postcard

Today was one of the finest, nicest days we have had, and just before the equator. The wind is starting to die down now and I will have to go deal with the asym spinnaker in just a moment as it finally cannot find enough air to stay full. No worries on a wrap today though since we have been close hauled all day with about 10 knots of wind from the SE and doing 3-5 knots all day. The only clouds have been the very small, light, fluffy cumulus clouds spread far and wide over the distant horizons. The moon was spectacular tonight as well and promises to be near full when we get to Hiva Oa, our first landfall.

However, I made a tourist, rookie mistake and got myself a nice little sunburn despite the sunscreen I put on. The tube was old and may be pass it "goodness" date. We are both pretty tan, and me most of all, but the sun will get you here, very quickly.

We have been reading - I finished Dana's great sailing book - "Two Years Before the Mast", then "Pompeii" and I just started another. We have a floating library here though and aren't likely to run out on this leg, or next year for that matter. You can't open a cabinet or locker on this boat without books falling out.

Have to go check for boats and the sails. Today we had a big bulk cargo carrier, fully loaded and low in the water, pass just in front of the bow in the late afternoon. We turned on the radar to watch his path and he adjusted his heading to give us a wide berth but a ship that big (the Atlantic Laurel) gets your attention. That is the third ship (out of 5-6 total) that has passed us close enough to be ready to change course, and two of those changed course to avoid a collision. You definitely need to pay attention out here. I am not sure how single-handed cruisers, who have to sleep some, ever make it.

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