Underway

Day One – March 29, 2013

20 12.005 N
106 56.043 W

Heading 229. Marquesas 2630 nm away (as the crow flies)…

We are underway! It feels amazing and I’m happy to report that we are all in great spirits, no one feels seasick (and none of us even took the seasickness medication Stugeron), and we are already making good time.

We raised anchor at 6:30pm last night. Getting the hook up was small victory in itself because Will had to spend the past two days trying to fix the windlass. Of course something would break last minute! We were so lucky to discover the problem early; it would have been incredibly frustrating to be ready to set sail yesterday only to discover that that we couldn’t move.

We had dropped the anchor in Punta Mita on Wednesday mid-day. Although there was lots of room, we didn’t do the best job of picking our spot and Hydroquest settled in a bit too close to another boat. After some debate we decided to raise it up and move, and that is when Will realized that the windlass wasn’t working in the UP position. Yes, it is possible to pull up the anchor by hand, but this is a big anchor. In true cruising community fashion, we had great help from a few different boats to identify the problem and by 2pm yesterday we had by-passed the culprit (a faulty solenoid) and set up a new switch.

Anyway, enough about the anchor. We’re at sea!!! We don’t need it now for three weeks.

We have been having a gorgeous sail – doing between 5 and 7 knots in 8 to 13 knots of wind. We’ve been on a beam reach since we left and we are on a heading directly toward our south pacific tropical paradise. The seas were a bit choppy last night, but now the swell has settled in and it is actually kind of a pleasant motion. We heard 18 (!) boats check in on the net last night and all came in through the SSB radio loud and clear.

Our watch schedule (5,5,4,4,2,2,2) is as follows:

8:30pm – 1:30am – Ben & Katy
1:30am – 6:30am – Will & Sarah
6:30am – 10:30am – Ben & Katy
10:30am – 2:30pm – Will & Sarah
2:30pm – 4:30pm – Ben & Katy
4:30pm – 6:30pm – Will & Sarah
6:30pm – 8:30pm – SOCIAL HOURS (Dinner, Net, my B-day party tonight!)

So far so good!

12 thoughts on “Underway”

  1. Karen Curry says:
    Reply

    Well done -that is so exciting! It is so rewarding to raise the anchor and get that first night under your belt. A huge Happy Birthday to Sarah – now you can open the birthday package and celebrate!!!! Love to all, Karen

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  3. Maroulla says:
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    Happy Birthday Sarah. Congratulations to starting your next year of life in such a spectacular fashion.
    Truly sailing off into the sunset ! Our thoughts are with you all.

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  4. Pat and Anne Hurlburt says:
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    We’re with you in spirit and what a special way to start your journey…celebrating your birthday, Sarah!
    Our thoughts are with you all.
    Fair winds and seas!

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  6. Tony Crews says:
    Reply

    Happy birthday Sarah…what a way to celebrate it! When you receive this you will be out of sight of land, but not out of mind! Here’s wishing you all a wonderful trip (one of a life time it is!).

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  7. Bruce Brown says:
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    Happy birthday Sarah and Bon voyage. We area all following you guys with great interest. Love Angie Bruce Katherine and Andrew

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  9. FranLloyd says:
    Reply

    Happy birthday Sarah! ….definitely a bday to remember! WE’ll look forward to the pictures. Murray and I add our best wishes for a safe passage as well. Continue to follow your dreams!
    Love
    Fran and Murray, Georgie and Betsie

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  12. fiona says:
    Reply

    It was so wonderful to see you all on Monday in La Cruz! Ben – have you used that darn surf board yet? I was looking for you on the beach on Tuesday and Wednesday ….
    Have a wonderfully exciting adventure … and a memorable birthday Sarah! I am looking forward to following your sail …. with envy!

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