Bonjour! Comment-ca va? Just as the almost full moon made it's way below the horizon, with the sun rising on the opposite horizon, we sailed across the half way mark and have reached the point of no return. Here we come South Pacific! We will also leave behind our Spanish from Mexico and South America and begin using our French as we approach the South Pacific. Lucky for us, Shelby is bilingual and is helping to tutor me with my totally inadequate grade school French.
Yesterday we achieved 167 nautical miles with the chute up and hand steering until the sunset. I am learning how to be on the helm with the gennaker (and yes Joe, I'm driving like a coyote). As our good friends Bucky and Juanita told me while I was learning how to horse back ride - I just need more TITS (time in the saddle). It was really exhilarating to be on the wheel as QuickStar went for a sleigh ride at 10.3 knots. Yeehaw!
In addition to our daily routines, of setting sails, making meals, doing dishes, playing games, reading, cleaning up, updating the blog, sending emails, monitoring our course, obtaining weather reports, etc., Peter also makes contact twice a day with his Ham contacts. Don Andersen is the weather guru that we contact, however, he is on holidays this week, so if all goes according to plan we'll be in the Marquessa's before he is back. Our ever faithful Ham contact is Peter from San Francisco (and whenever the propagation allows, Ron from Vancouver). Each night Peter prepares his report and checks in. We also try each evening to hear friends from B.C. who are doing various crossings on their boats. Doug has just recently aced his Ham radio exam, so he will be making his debut on the radio tonight by giving the report...Roger that....over, over.
In addition to these awesome Ham volunteers, we also like to thank Scott and Cindy on BeachHouse, who are ahead of us in the Marquessa's. Although we have yet to meet personally, we have been in email communication for the past few months as they are three weeks ahead in this itinerary, and Scott has been very generous in his time to provide first hand tips and advice. We are looking forward to catching up with them somewhere in the Tuamotus or Society Islands.
Well I'll wrap this up as the homemade bread that Shelby and I have made this morning is just about ready to come out of the oven. (Okay kids, don't kill yourselves laughing - old dogs can learn new tricks!)
A Demain (bye till tomorrow)
Cheers...Peter, Diana, Doug and Shelby
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