Cold & Wet

Time: 2021/07/16 03:04:59
Latitude: 43-44.42N
Longitude: 169-17.80W
Speed: 5.1
Course: 40T
Wind_Speed: 15
Wind_Dir: SSW
Air_Temp: 16C
Wave_Dir: SSW
Comment: Spinnaker is still flying. Rainy and drizzly. Low clouds have settled in and visibility is probably less than 1 mile. A tanker passed last night within 1.2 miles and I never saw its lights, just the signal on AIS. Hopefully they can see us too. Passed through a Japanese fishing fleet last night around midnight, huge bright lights on outriggers, all of the boats had AIS and were loitering at less than 1kt. Super interesting given the distance from any land.


Wow, it is so crazy to spend the day sailing along in fog. We have not had the experience before and it is as eerie as you would expect. We were hopeful some rays of sunshine would eventually work their way through, but nope, not a drop of sunlight or blue sky was bestowed upon Maple's decks today. I know there is generally not much to see out here but I prefer a much further horizon than what this fog is currently offering us. We are now meal planning based on what will warm up the boat. The plan is to make bread dough tonight to rise and bake it in the morning to warm up the cabin because this morning was a record low of 16C inside, 14C outside. Awhile ago I was following this crazy Canuck who was sailing solo non-stop around all five capes and he mentioned using those gel fuel sources used to keep chafing dishes warm as a way to provide some heat inside his boat. Thinking we were sailing to Japan in January, D thought this was a brilliant idea so he managed to buy six in Tahiti and they have rattled around in our cupboard ever since. Well this morning, we cracked one open and lit it to see if it would offer us some much sought after warmth. Not sure if it worked or if it was the kettle being constantly on serving up hot drinks, either way, the temperature inside the boat eventually got up to a balmly 20C, which felt positively tropical after shivering at 16.

There is little desire to keep watch outside as the rain has been a constant drizzle all day. But this is the beauty of the catamaran. We have 360 degree view from inside and don't need to step outside other than to periodically check on the instruments to make sure we are still on the right course. The self-tacking spinnaker is brilliantly just pulling us along our merry way on more or less a direct course for Kodiak. We still have a little over 1000nm to go, but with the relaxed following seas and gentle breeze perfectly filling the sail, I could go on like this forever.

D already mentioned the fishing fleet from last night. Why is it that we only ever see fishing boats at night?! It isn't like they go home to port during the day. These were the first fishing vessels we have seen since leaving Hawaii. We have not been blessed with any moonlight really on this leg of the passage, but who needs the moon when you have the craziest of bright lights from a multitude of boats scattered all around the horizon. So of course it was during my shift that I had to play Frogger around these guys, but I persevered and eventually got through to the other side.

All is well with Maple and her crew. I am confident we are adjusting back to our Canadian roots and will be acclimatized to the colder weather before we know it. Becki, I promise I will have no further need for your patio heater when I visit you next summer.