24-April-2006 Position

8'11.2S/136'36.5W
24-Apr-2006 Noon

• 125nm made good last 24 hours
• 2980 Miles from Z-town
• 199 Miles to Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands
• N 5 knots wind, sunshine and no squalls
• 5ft N swell
• making 6 knots, motor sailed from 1030am

We had a great 24 hour run with perfect sailing conditions. Last night we were making over 6 knots with the wind right off the port quarter and small swells. We started to motor this morning. The winds had shifted from the north, so we decided we would run the engine to charge up the batteries. Then all the wind just quit!

Lots of stars last night. We even caught a Mahi Mahi at sunset, but decided to let it go, as it was getting dark and we did not want to make a big mess. Guess we are getting spoiled if we are throwing fish back. But that really was the only fish we have caught this trip, except for the one the shark ate. We keep 2 lures in the water every day. So we have been making an attempt to catch something. There is just nothing out here.

The miles are ticking down. We are hoping to make landfall in Hiva Oa at first light Wednesday morning. Not sure if we remember how to furl the sails, as they have been up for the last 3 weeks. Not much exciting news today. Amy is on her second Oprah DVD. She is a Su Doku puzzle genius. I have read every book on the boat. And we are on disk 3 on our Deadwood DVD's.

See you in 24,
Tom and Amy

Translations By Ron:
Port Quarter = Left rear corner.