3rd June, 2008
The Race for The Race begins, after a false start we left San Diego on Saturday morning the 31st of May with great winds of 20 knots plus from behind pushing us south with three consecutive 200+ mile days and onward for more. We are now a third of the way down the Mexican coast and the boat is pushing along steadily as normal not even noticing her load of over 500 gallons of vegetable oil to carry us on through the doldrums and the Panama Canal should the wind not be there for us. We are hoping to catch fish for some great meals and some excitement along the way so wish us luck friends. We had quite a collection of squid on deck this morning so tonight while on watch I’m going to try and collect them while their fresh for some salt and pepper calamari treats tomorrow. After being surrounded with white caps and what resemble unicorns jumping along the horizon the Team is going well with huge smiles all around and we all look forward to warmer weather and smoother seas ahead.
Smooth sailing and G’day to all
Brent Taylor
1st Mate/ engineer
‘2041’
1st June, 2008
Our first full day of the Panama/Nantucket voyage has been quite fortuitous. With an average of 8.5 knots we have sailed 200 miles south in 24 hours, caught a fish for dinner and saw a night sky blanketed in stars. We were expecting sunshine but instead have weather which has made us resort to pulling our beanie caps out of the bottom of our bags but at least it’s pushing us along in the right direction. As we near the southern hemisphere and its constellations, the song ‘Southern Cross’ comes to mind- just one of many songs fitting to the soundtrack of this voyage. Captain Mark left us in San Diego to take a few weeks off with his family; I’m sure weeks full of surfing, kayaking and beachside bbq’s but at the rate we are going he better get his fill because we will be in Panama before we, or he, realizes it! Thanks for a fantastic west coast Voyage Mark and we will see you in Panama! He left us in the hands of Captain Homer who dove right in to our crazy little home with excitement and good energy. Day two begins and porpoises are playing off our bow and the albatross gracefully glide around the white caps of the waves, besides the five of us that call the 2041 home, that’s all the life we see. No land, just the swell of the seas as far as the eye can see and an albatross following our wake.
Fair winds.
Hannah Huntley
26th May, 2008
The Journey south to go north begins???
Different I know but is it not always???
Passport and VEGEMITE x2 I’m ready to go!
A beautiful day begins our task, spinnaker flying with the breeze behind, sun on my shoulders a lucky day. Another tomorrow I hope to push us to the warmth of the tropics and onward towards the equator. No fish today but we have thousands of miles to go.
Thank you for the energy and support of those we met on our way and those I left at home, I carry your thoughts with me and you are always in mine.
Brent Taylor
Your (1st) Mate
26th May, 2008
We have been talking about Panama and preparing for the trip for days on end so it was a breath of fresh air to finally push off the dock early this morning. The race for the race begins. By the end of July we hope to be in Nantucket where there is a sailboat race- that gives us 8 weeks. Not a leisure cruise by any means hence OUR race for THE race. I’ve stocked up on sunscreen, dried fruit and yeast for fresh baked bread. We have 3 straight weeks of sea time before we set foot on land again. Bring on the sunshine, the wind, fresh fish and afternoon swims. Panama, here we come.
Peace.
Hannah Huntley
Cook
26th May, 2008
What a day, finally on our way south. The wind was behind us this afternoon and we were able to fly the spinnaker for the first time. It pushed us along at about eight knots and I pray for more wind as we head south.
Jake Barrett
Deckhand
