(no subject)

February 28, 2010 5:40PM CST
Position: 14°48'N 082°03'W
Couse 150T SOG 7
Wind N @ 20kts
Skies mostly clear
Seas 6-8 feet
Nautical miles sailed year to date: 1120nm
.. in last 24 hours about 180nm make good over ground.

The sun just set and is still casting a striking array of pinks, oranges and purples on the streaking mares tail clouds above. Just on the heel of the suns departure for the day a full moon is rising with a bright orange glow and at this moment a spooky Halloween type cloud belting it's middle. The moon phase is so ideal for night sailing that you might think we'd planned this... no this time it was just luck. We love the full moon at night as you can see your sails and the surrounding seas with ease making for a much more enjoyable night time experience that gives a greater feeling of control and security.

If you read yesterdays post I can report that we missed the timing of the approaching cold front by at least 6 hours and this translating to a rough night. Winds were steady at 25knots plus with squalls to 33 knots plus. Breaking beam seas 8-12 feet were slamming the side of the boat at times with an alarming crash and jolt that could bring you out of the deepest sleep. (not under deck slamming, but breaking seas hitting the windward side of the hulls). Unfortunately, we had to maintain a course with seas on the beam until 2PM this afternoon when we were finally able to turn down wind a bit and get the seas behind us from a more quartering direction. Nothing romantic or endearing about this trip so far except we've been making decent time toward Panama.

Lots of water across the decks last night and today. So much in fact that we've discovered three hatches that before now have never leaked. So much water on the windows that I almost wished for a windshield wiper to see out. Very happy with the pilot house... just sat inside in my shorts and no shirt and held on at times as we got a solid thrashing from the beam seas. Beam seas are the worst on a cat and we even had a few thing tip over, gasp!

Kathy is a real trooper (or sailor I guess I should say) she just having served up a great steak topped with melted cheese and pine nuts with a side of rice. It's tough working in the galley so a big thanks for the tasty dinner!

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Wedding wrap up

A very special thanks to everyone who joined us for our Valentines wedding in Belize. Thanks for being there for us! It was really a treat to spend time with all of our guests and to share this special event. The wedding week activities, wedding and reception turned out perfect.

Revved up after two weeks going non-stop we kept the momentum going and accomplished several days worth of pre-departure tasks (Check out of Belize, Fuel and provision boat, etc) in less than a day.

For our honeymoon we sailed out to Turneffe Reef to spend a few night recharging. Nature sent out the welcome wagon and we had the joy of being escorted both into and out of the lagoon by dolphins. At South Turneffe Reef we enjoyed some great snorkeling, spear fishing, and even scored a few meals worth of lobsters. Pretty much the perfect honeymoon.

Still charged up and anxious to make progress toward the Panama canal and a crossing into the Pacific Ocean as soon as possible we set out for the Bay Islands of Honduras.

Heading East from Belize toward Guanaja the eastern most of the Honduran Bay Islands is never easy, but the weather cooperated for the 24 hour sail.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Guanja, Honduras towards Panama Canal (Day 1)

February 27, 2010 6:40PM CST
Position: 16°04.8 N 084°32.8 W
Course 100° Speed 7.8 knots (partilly furled jib, no main).
Weather: Squally with Westerly winds 22-26 knots
Miles sailed so far today: 80nm
Nautical Miles sailed year to date: 947nm

After a few days waiting for favorable weather to proceed toward Panama (200nm of easting still required before we can turn south) we got lucky break and set sail. Sailing East in the Caribbean is always difficult as the prevailing winds nearly always have a easterly component. Recently, cold fronts with strong North component winds have been sweeping the area every 3-4 days. As these 'Northers' approach the wind often clocks (wind shifts clockwise) from the prevailing NE to E to SE to S to SW to W to NW to 'Norther' and blows hard for about 24 hours. The last 'Norther' we hid out from while in Guanaja peaked in 30's with some boats reporting gusts to the high 40 knot range.

Getting back to the voyage at hand. We departed this AM (February 27 7:30AM)about 30 hours (we think) in front of the next 'Norther' as the winds shifted to the South. The plan being we ride the clocking winds (S, SW, W, NW) winds as we sail quickly east and hopefully make it to the point we can turn South BEFORE the 'Norther' unleashes it's full fury. The good news is that 'Northers' come in varying strengths and this one should be of the milder variety. Special note to our mothers: Relax we wouldn't leave port if we weren't going to be 100% safe.

Thus far the winds are delivering as promised, but the seas are pretty confused (i.e. coming from various directions) due to the rapidly changing wind directions. Confused seas directly translate into both of us feeling seas sick until we get our seas legs in 12-24 hours. Thus, we've alternated lying on the couch all morning and afternoon. This afternoon the wind really began to pipe up from the SW at a steady 22-26 knots True and the seas are getting more organized. Lazy sailing on Jib alone we're making good speed of about 8 knots.

As a side note sailing downwind in an Atlantic 42 catamaran certainly is comfortable. Inside the pilot house you have little sensation of the wind strength with the wind from behind. Just a moment ago we had a squall with the true wind speed hitting a steady 31 knots and the boat speed jumped up to 10.5 knots with surfs to 12.5 knots(on Jib alone). With 30 knots you can hear the wind in the rigging, but inside the pilot house it's all serene with the exception of the water rushing by the hulls and the wind beginning to sing in the rigging. Here I sit in my shorts, no shirt, no shoes and certainly no foul weather gear. Pretty sweet to sail down wind in the Atlantic cats.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Guanja, Honduras towards Panama Canal (Day 1)

February 27, 2010 6:40PM CST
Position: 16°04.8 N 084°32.8 W
Course 100° Speed 7.8 knots (partilly furled jib, no main).
Weather: Squally with Westerly winds 22-26 knots
Miles sailed so far today: 80nm
Nautical Miles sailed year to date: 947nm

After a few days waiting for favorable weather to proceed toward Panama (200nm of easting still required before we can turn south) we got lucky break and set sail. Sailing East in the Caribbean is always difficult as the prevailing winds nearly always have a easterly component. Recently, cold fronts with strong North component winds have been sweeping the area every 3-4 days. As these 'Northers' approach the wind often clocks (wind shifts clockwise) from the prevailing NE to E to SE to S to SW to W to NW to 'Norther' and blows hard for about 24 hours. The last 'Norther' we hid out from while in Guanaja peaked in 30's with some boats reporting gusts to the high 40 knot range.

Getting back to the voyage at hand. We departed this AM (February 27 7:30AM)about 30 hours (we think) in front of the next 'Norther' as the winds shifted to the South. The plan being we ride the clocking winds (S, SW, W, NW) winds as we sail quickly east and hopefully make it to the point we can turn South BEFORE the 'Norther' unleashes it's full fury. The good news is that 'Northers' come in varying strengths and this one should be of the milder variety. Special note to our mothers: Relax we wouldn't leave port if we weren't going to be 100% safe.

Thus far the winds are delivering as promised, but the seas are pretty confused (i.e. coming from various directions) due to the rapidly changing wind directions. Confused seas directly translate into both of us feeling seas sick until we get our seas legs in 12-24 hours. Thus, we've alternated lying on the couch all morning and afternoon. This afternoon the wind really began to pipe up from the SW at a steady 22-26 knots True and the seas are getting more organized. Lazy sailing on Jib alone we're making good speed of about 8 knots.

As a side note sailing downwind in an Atlantic 42 catamaran certainly is comfortable. Inside the pilot house you have little sensation of the wind strength with the wind from behind. Just a moment ago we had a squall with the true wind speed hitting a steady 31 knots and the boat speed jumped up to 10.5 knots with surfs to 12.5 knots(on Jib alone). With 30 knots you can hear the wind in the rigging, but inside the pilot house it's all serene with the exception of the water rushing by the hulls and the wind beginning to sing in the rigging. Here I sit in my shorts, no shirt, no shoes and certainly no foul weather gear. Pretty sweet to sail down wind in the Atlantic cats.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Wedding wrap up

A very special thanks to everyone who joined us for our Valentines wedding in Belize. Thanks for being there for us! It was really a treat to spend time with all of our guests and to share this special event. The wedding week activities, wedding and reception turned out perfect.

Revved up after two weeks going non-stop we kept the momentum going and accomplished several days worth of pre-departure tasks (Check out of Belize, Fuel and provision boat, etc) in less than a day.

For our honeymoon we sailed out to Turneffe Reef to spend a few night recharging. Nature sent out the welcome wagon and we had the joy of being escorted both into and out of the lagoon by dolphins. At South Turneffe Reef we enjoyed some great snorkeling, spear fishing, and even scored a few meals worth of lobsters. Pretty much the perfect honeymoon.

Still charged up and anxious to make progress toward the Panama canal and a crossing into the Pacific Ocean as soon as possible we set out for the Bay Islands of Honduras.

Heading East from Belize toward Guanaja the eastern most of the Honduran Bay Islands is never easy, but the weather cooperated for the 24 hour sail.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Married!

Warranty repairs update

Warranty repairs update.

Specrtra Water Makers - Is replacing the Clark Pump we just exchanged with no questions asked. They are even sending it to us in Florida for pick up at no expense. Thanks Spectra for standing behind your very solid products.

Icom America - Is taking care of the "clipping" issue on the Icom M-802. This is an old issue, but the radio we just purchased NEW in Colombia... we found out later had been sitting on the shelf since 2003 and the well known issue is covered under warranty. Thanks Icom! we've now owned four of your SSB radios two 710's and two 802's.

ACR Electronics - Not sure what to say at this point. They say the AIS unit has been tested twice and checks out. I've tested it with three different VHF cables and two different antennas. cables. Under my test the unit was only picking up nothing or on good just some ships at 3 miles or less. In the beginning it was picking up ships at up to 55nm out. They say it's good. I am starting to feel very uneasy about taking the unit back. I would like them to replace it and take my observations seriously and really test the unit to find the flaws. My tests ran for several weeks they have only had the unit for less than 24 hours. Stay tuned as I will update on how they follow up on this. At this point I;m asking for a new unit OR to pay for a upgrade. Stay tuned for a update. Keeping my fingers crossed they value our many thousands of dollars spent on their gear.

Dave in Florida for a few days

I'm up in Florida helping the new owner of Pacifica get the boat rigged (set up after many months of storage in the boat yard). Today we got the sails on, launched the boat and took a couple of tries at docking. The boat looks great and everything is working great.

On Thursday I fly back to Belize and wedding guest begin to arrive the next day. The several next weeks promise to be busy and very fun. Only 13 days until the love of my life Kathy and I tie ultimate bowline.