16 October - Punishment

1200 position 24 45S 175 10E. Days run 130 miles.

We are being punished now for the good times we had on the first three days of the passage. At 7PM last night the wind filled in from the south and quickly increased to 20 knots. We put 2 reefs in the mainsail, rolled out the jib, and headed west. The wind we are now seeing is coming out of a high pressure system that is approaching New Zealand from the west. The wind is forecast to slowly back to the east over the next couple of days as the high passes south of us allowing us to head up until we are pointed toward the barn. It has already lifted us twenty degrees and we are heading southwest.

The seas built quickly after the wind filled in, and they are very confused. It feels like we are riding a bucking bronco out here - not very comfortable, and the boat is pounding a bit, but at least it is dry below and we are protected in the cockpit.

Clay and John teamed up for the third mahi preparation last night, fried mahi in an egg Panko batter. It was the best yet.

The autopilot drives the boat so there's not much to do out here but plan the next meal and solve the world's problems. Yesterday when we were all together in the cockpit, Clay announced that he had a serious question to ask us. "When you get divorced in Alabama, is your ex-wife still your sister?" Hmmm.... This led to a discussion on the various cultures where marriage to ones siblings is accepted, which led to a discussion on which states allow you to marry your first cousins. The jury is still out on that one. Yes, we are making progress out here on solving the world's problems.