4.7.18 @ 1000 Local, 1700 Zulu Day #13
Latitude: 09°45N Longitude: 125°29W Covered Distance Last 24 Hours: 107 Distance to the Marquesas: 1414 Distance from Punta de Mita, Mexico: 1486 Weather: 80% clouds with some rain Winds: 17 NNE Sea State: 6′-8′ swell NNE Barometer: 1014.5 Crew’s Mood: Another day of outstanding.
You will know them by there deeds
This world is a funny place. Some of us don’t even know the name of our neighbors and some of us do. There are those that keep to them selves and have very little eye contact with those living around them for what ever reason. But I’d like to speak about those you know that are all around you. These individuals are the grocery clerks, the plumbers, the domestic engineers, the retired nurses or the police officers. Ordinary people that do extra ordinary things in life in their communities.
The boating community in particular has many individuals from all walks of life and from all ethnic, religious and political backgrounds, but many of them seem to be stitched with a similar thread that makes them who they are. That fabric that creates binding and long lasting friendships that are sometimes created after a single incident.
For me there have been many incidents where I have been there to help many boaters along my boating life and there have been many that have provided me with countless advise, assistance and friendships. A tool, help with anchoring, friendly advise or just a smile all are part of the common language that boaters and in particular sailboaters have in common. Many of us have done well enough to purchase a boat and live the reality of a dream we call cruising. And even if that boat never leaves the dock, those individual that live on it are still living a dream of the cruising life style. Most of us are the ones that see a plastic bag in the water and use our boat hook to remove it and place it in the trash can. We do offer our help freely without any strings attached. Paying it forward or doing good to others because we might be on the receiving end of assistance in the future.
I have a friend that loves to fish. His whole life has been involved with fishing in one way or another. One of the many days he was fishing at Catalina Island in his tender, he saw birds diving well off shore near White’s Landing. He thought he saw something in the water so he fired up his trusty tender and went out to investigate. He found a girl splashing about in the ocean. Apparently she had fallen off one of the island sight seeing boats. After he got back to his boat, he called the US Coast Guard. They had just received a report of a missing girl on a tour boat out of Avalon Harbor. Another acquaintance postponed an opening in a weather window to tow another sailboat back to an anchorage. I can go on with countless stories about these individuals.
All of this comes to mind recently because a vessel within 80 miles of us had reported a hydraulic steering/autopilot issue several days back. The issue was reportedly mitigated. Yesterday, we learned that they thought they had fixed the problem, but were still leaking approximately one liter of fluid every six hours and they needed more oil to mix with diesel fuel as a make shift hydraulic fluid to get them to safe harbor. Dazzler had a few extra gallons of oil on board willing to share with the distressed vessel. Another vessel Nightide was also going to contribute some oil as well. A coordinate was established and we all set course for that coordinate. John’s voice, the owner of the distressed vessel, was obviously stressed and fatigued from trying to locate the source of the hydraulic leak. For several days he had been unsuccessful in finding it. I suggested that he check the area surrounding all of his bilges for oil running down the inside of the boat to the bilge area. All three of us are heading to the rendezvous site when at about 1700 local time a message from John indicating he had found the leak and it had been stopped. The need for more oil was gone for now. I had never even met John before. But, there you go complete strangers in a HUGE ASS ocean willing to render aid at the mention of assistance needed. That’s what cruisers do. We step up and help those around us that need it. The aftermath of Hurricane Odile that hit Baja California a few years ago had endless stories of boaters helping boaters with no expectation of more than a thank you.
I’m not trying to paint the picture of cruising as rainbow farts and sunshine kisses. There are those in the cruising community that are expecting the rest of the community to support them by running to their call of assistance only to find that the individual is basically looking for free rides, parts and or free labor. Those individuals are known throughout the many different boating communities and are usually avoided.
My hats off to the hundreds of cruisers, men, women, pets and kids as well, who have rendered assistance at the slightest whisper of help. Acts of donating blood, picking up groceries while at the market, helping keep a boat of the rocks, providing assistance of some fashion, rescuing a wayward tender or pumping out nearby tenders after a heavy rain. You all know who you are and I say a heart felt thank you! You are known by your deeds.
Until next time, stay well my friends.
Cheers!
Captain Dan
PS The photo is of our Ol’ faithful generator. She helps us manage the power needs of the Engels freezer and make up for those cloudy days. Dazzler’s solar array and wind generator do just fine during the daylight hours. But, sometimes you just need a little help from little friend.

4.6.18 @ 1700 Zulu Day #12 Latitude: 10°43 N Longitude: 124° 13 W Covered Distance Last 24 Hours: 152 NM!!! Distance to the Marquesas: 1504 NM Distance from Punta de Mita, Mexico: 1379 NM Weather: 100% Cloud Cover Winds: NNE 22 Knots Sea State: NNE 6’ – 8’ Barometer: 1014.5 Crew’s Mood: Sore but happy!
Boat bites! You can always tell a serious cruiser as they typically walk around with the evidence of boat bites in the form of bruises, cuts and even on occasion, broken bones. For example, two days ago I awoke and made my way to the cockpit . I just sit down and start to settle in when Dan says, “I wasn’t going to tell you but the spinnaker pole came down and hit me on the head.”
“What? Are you bleeding?” I demand to know.
He calmly responds, “Yes, a little, but it’s nothing.”
Fortunately It turns out that it’s not a large cut, maybe an inch or so, but it isn’t a surface scratch either. No, no stitches will be required but we must tend to it. It’s a shame too, I’ve been wanting to practice my suture technique on something more than a pig leg. LOL
After a brief stint with the onboard medic, me, we ascend to the lido deck to continue our morning. Of course I won’t rest until I discuss the, “I wasn’t going to tell you” comment. You see, out here in the middle of the ocean it is critical that we communicate these types of details. If I don’t know he’s hurt, that could be a big problem. As I begin to chastise him he tells me, “It was just a fleeting thought. I just didn’t want you to fret none and the way I saw it, by not waking you up I got two and a half hours of peace.” Being the sweet southern gal I am, I am going to save you from the words I used to reply to that comment. Needless to say, I’m pretty sure “fleeting” thoughts such as this will be nonexistent in the future.
This evening I received my own boat bite in the galley preparing dinner. I’m pouring a cup of lemonade for Dan when a large swell hits at the wrong angle throwing me across the galley and into the solid wood companionway stairs. I hit my right butt cheek squarely on the sciatic nerve as hot dog buns are flying like space debris and lemonade, in slow motion, is splashing from the sink to my face to the floor. A chorus of expletives involuntarily exits my mouth like I’m some rapper from the hood. Dan flies to the top of the stairs to find me and the galley in total disarray. Oh yes, this will leave a mark.
Since we departed on this journey twelve days ago we’ve both received our share of boat bites. Dazzler is beautiful and we love her but you have to watch her. She’s got teeth that will get ya if you’re not paying attention and honestly, even if you are!
Other than a few minor injuries it’s been picture perfect over the past two days. Flying fish are everywhere so we drop two hand lines in the water with the hopes of catching a tasty treat. BBQ pork sandwiches and Mac & Cheese were on last night’s menu but we’d gladly substituted some grilled Wahoo, Tuna or Dorado. Unfortunately it was not to be. Today it’s been a bit too rough for fishing. Well not so much for fishing but for the catching and cleaning that would ensue if we hooked something. Using an ultra sharp filet knife when the boat is dancing on 6+ foot swells at 6 – 7 knots is just a large boat bite waiting to happen so we err on the side of caution as Dazzler is not going to run out of good food anytime soon.
Yes, it appears the trade winds are upon and with this comes a whole new way of sailing. We’re in 13 – 20 knot winds and the swells are reaching upwards of eight to ten feet. It sounds worse than it is as they are long rollers so you just kind of drift up and down on them. Once you get used to the rhythm it’s a piece of cake, unless, of course, you’re in the galley.
Today we were making excellent time with an average speed of 5.9 knots reaching upwards of 7.5 knots for short periods of time. We’ve had to try out some new sail configurations to stay on course. We flew the spinnaker across the bow yesterday which worked very well until the winds picked up later in the day. So, we did our usual nightly routine using the jib and the main in a wing on wing configuration which is what we’ve kept up today and tonight. It’s allowing us to stay on the downwind course we need to maintain.
Tonight as I stand watch we are literally flying through the sea with an average speed of 6.7 knots! The giant rollers are pushing us along and I see us hit almost 9 knots as we surf down the back side of them. Yes, we are definitely on our way now. We are getting much closer to the ITCZ and expect to enter it within the next two to three days. We’ve been studying the weather and it looks like somewhere around 8° N 126-127° W is the ideal spot to drop in. It is the narrowest spot with the fewest storms..at least at the moment. Hitting the ITCZ at the right spot can be critical as it can determine the total distance we travel in the area, the number of storms we endure and where we make landfall in French Polynesia. One friend on SV Intrepid didn’t get South quick enough and was forced to forgo Hiva Oa and will be making landfall further north in Nuka Hiva on Saturday. He’s lucky he didn’t miss the Marquesas all together. That would be very disappointing for us so we are being extra cautious to hit this just right.
I’m ready to get throughout the ITCZ. The thought of storms and the doldrums is not pleasant. We are prepared to motor for a few days if need be so as to get through quickly and efficiently. I’m just ready to have that part of this journey on the back side.
But for tonight I’m focusing on the moment. The winds are 13 – 15 knots. The sails are full, we’re making great time and the phosphorescence is literally lighting up the sea as Dazzler makes her majestic plunges into the trough of the giant swells. I can’t think of a more enjoyable way to spend four hours in the middle of the night.
Hold it. Stop everything! I’m sitting here writing this article in the dark with the only light being the glow of my iPad and the phosphorescence on the ocean when I hear a loud smack in the cockpit. “What the hell is that?” I grab the headlamp and start looking around when all of the sudden…”Good God in heaven! That stench! Where is that lil bastard? It’s a flying fish. It has to be. Where the hell is it?” This sends me off on a fish hunt. It’s not on the starboard deck or aft or on the port. I can’t see it in the cockpit but I can smell that oily, nasty creature. “Oh please tell me it didn’t land down below.” I spend about five minutes searching before I resign myself to the fact that it probably flipped off the deck. I sit down but only for a moment. The stench is still too strong. It has to be here somewhere so I start tearing apart the cockpit and finally I hear it flopping below me. “There you are you lil SOB! It’s time for you to go. Oh but wait…I must get your photo for our followers first.” After all, a gal’s got to have her priorities straight. How many of my landlubber friends have ever seen one of these close up? If only I could capture the stink so you’d have the full experience. Okay, photo taken, fish overboard and I’m back to finish up here. This was definitely a first for me. Just thanking our Lord in heaven that thing didn’t smack me in the face or something. I surely don’t want to be on deck in the middle of the night trying to de-stink myself. Well as Dan would remind me… “If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen out here.”
Stay safe out there and remember a boat’s bite is far worse than her bark!
Until next time…
Jilly
P.S. Here’s a little extra info requested by one of our followers… As of 0222 local time…Air Temp 82.5°, Sea Temp 85.1°, Course 208°T, Current Speed is 7.1 Knots…and now you have the rest of the story, Jim!