Moku pe'a Report

29 April 0600 position 17-39.9N 157-49.1W. Day's run 126 miles.

We enjoyed five hours of smooth sailing in light air heading due South
about 100 miles off the Kona coast until the wind died completely at 1100
and we turned the engine on. Powered until 1800 when we were well past
South Point and the wind finally filled in from the East. Since then we
have been scooting along at five to six knots in the same amount of wind
on a beam reach in smooth seas. Looks like the lees of the islands are
behind us. After midnight the skies cleared and with no moon it was very
dark except for the Milky Way ahead of us and phosphorescence in our wake.
Interesting how the biggest flashes of phosphorescence are deep below
the surface and sometimes flash multiple times as they disappear behind
us. It almost seems as if the little creatures are protesting as we pass…


Finally had my first deep sleep last night and am getting caught up. It
has been difficult getting used to being awake from Midnight to 0600 and
sleeping when the sun is up. Rocky seems to be faring better than I am in
adjusting to our 6 on 6 off watch system. We also had our first baths on
the stern today. Don't know about Rocky, but I was getting pretty ripe.
Amazing how a good sleep and a bath can improve ones' outlook on life.

This morning it was so nice we played a couple of games of cribbage. I
finally beat Rocky (he is much better at it than I am) in the first game
but he skunked me in the second. I put out a fishing line this afternoon,
but it was too smooth and we were going too slow. I think I will get
serious tomorrow.

I also had time to dig into our parting gifts. Many thanks to Hiromi for
the kaki mochi and chocolate, Betty Lou for the chocolate, and Lori for
the cookies and booze lei. Moku pe'a stinks good from all the flower lei
we received.

It was Costco muffins and an orange for breakfast, tuna wraps for lunch,
ham, mac-n-cheeze and a salad for dinner, and snacks at all hours. Nobody
is starving here.

The steering cables were a bit loose so I tightened them and rigged a
bungee cord to keep the topping lift from slapping against the mainsail.
At about 0100 the masthead light, which we had been using to illuminate
the windex, crapped out. I'll go up to fix it in either Christmas or
Tonga. Otherwise, Moku pe'a is doing well.