Position: We are about 150nm North East of the Galapagos Island in the part of the Pacific Ocean called the Panama Basin. Our position is:
3 08.37N 89 45.67W
*Note: I am told you can copy and paste these coordinates into google earth and it will show you where we are.
Mileage:3143-3043nm= 100nm We have been sailing mostly South West, on our track, which is good news!
Number of miles to go: 3043nm to go of approx. 3850nm
Fish count: The count remains at 3 Mahi Mahi, 2 Cero and 6 tuna. One Marlin that we were happy got away! The rods were out today, but only dolphin as company.
SAILING CONDITIONS
The sea state settled during the night. We ended up having a lovely sail with a few stars shining through the light cloud cover. But boy it started to get cold? Do not ask me why it is getting colder as we approach the Equator. I think I recall that there may be a cold current, the Humboldt Current?, coming up this way. But it is definitely colder at night.
The calmer sea state prevailed through most of the day and I set the humans to work cleaning up our food stocks. It has been over 2 weeks since we hit the fruit and veg market and stocks are getting low. I got the humans to check through for anything that had gone off (one pepper and one pumpkin rotten from the inside out). We are low in fresh fruit and salad fixing now.
STOCKING UP FOR A LONG SAILING TRIP
Part 1 – Where are you going to put it!
I thought it would be fun to share with you some pointers we have learned about stocking up before a long passage. Friends of ours are about to join the ARC for an Atlantic Passage and it might help. We have a few friends crossing the Pacific right now that can throw in their ideas. No Bob, people can not live of peanut butter and jam sandwiches. I also thought it would be fun for family at home to try to imagine doing something like that.
The first step in stocking up is figuring out where you are going to put everything. Fridge space, freezer space, cupboards and can you hang some slings? Now go over to your kitchen and imagine squeezing that into the average size mono-hull boat. For my Nan and Granddad, our galley is not much bigger than your pantry. For my Uncle Mike, you would have to give up the concept of that big ass fridge/freezer of yours. For my cousins you will have to imagine cooking food in your closets. Now imagine storing 40 days worth of food in there too. Try!
For most people it is unimaginable. Even with you big kitchens and fridges you still probably hit the shops at least once a week. A few extras on your way home. Pick up a snack while you are out. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC. You think stocking up at home for 40 days would be hard, now try figuring out how to do it on a boat.
Before we go any further I have some homework for you. Try to figure out what you eat. Keep a mental note of all the things you eat in a day.
Example: Cereal, milk, coffee, chocolate bar, cheese sandwich, coke, crisps (potato chips), apple, pork chop, potatoes, corn, peas, cookies, chocolate buttons, cheese popcorn. Try not to miss anything out.
You will be quickly surprised how much you actually eat in an average day. You can start to get a concept of how much and the types of foods you are going to need to stock up on your imaginary journey.
I will tell you one true story.
I met a lovely gentleman who had solved the problem of stocking up for long passages. He said he calculates the maximum number of days he will be at sea and times this by three. He then purchase that number of pot noodles and eggs. He says he is happy to live on pot noodles with a hard boiled egg in it, for three meals a day, for the entire passage. He was a solo sailor….need I say anymore.
SO I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE DONE YOUR IMAGINARY HOMEWORK FOR ME WHEN WE TALK AGAIN.
END
