vic maui 2018 - post #5

Day 8,  "Life at 30 degrees"
37 de 35,2’N 146 deg 49.9’ W

Another challenging night we shifty and gusty winds with an overcast sky. With no visual references and the wind ‘all over the map’ driving (and sleeping) was challenging.
There is standing joke among the crew: “Life is better at 30 degrees” referring to the heel angle of the boat as we beat to windward for a over a thousand miles by now. While not constantly at 30 degrees, we try to keep it under 20, waves knock us around and we frequently ‘stand on our ears’.

Despite the bouncy ride crazy Chef Pierre (aka Dan Tresa) cooked up a storm in the galley this morning and we enjoyed breakfast sausages and scrambled eggs sprinkled with spring onions. Delicious! We all ate on deck out of our fancy bowls. Fruit (apples & oranges) are still plentiful and should last until Maui.
We are now at our furthest point from land: Almost 1,100 NM from any land. This is about the same distance as from Vancouver to Northern Baja California. San Francisco strait east of us about 1,200 NM away.
Earlier today we passed the half way point to Maui. This is the time when “Half way Café” opens. This is a special place, and only available by invitation. I opens every two years during the Vic Maui race.

Today’s menu is:
Appetizer: Blame it on Tim Special
Tribute to Neptune
Ede’s Beef Stroganoff
Haagen Dazs Bars
We will report on the feast tomorrow!

As I am writing this, Salient stuffed her bow into a big wave and a massive wall of water drenched the rest of my crew on deck in water. They report the cockpit is now clean!

I have to get out of the writers chair as my ribs are getting squashed by the seatbelt that strap me in and my left leg is developing a cramp from stemming myself into the seat.

“Life is better at 30 degrees”.
Until tomorrow – Salient out.

(Photos below:  Crazy chef Pierre aka Dan eating a breakfast sausage, crew breakfast on deck,
Navigator Gunnar having hot chocolate while driving)