Final Lap

With less than 48hrs to go, the high pressure system seems to remain
omnipresent. Our trusted donkey of Swedish descent has been hard at
work for over 54 hrs now with just a 5min break to check internal fluid
levels. The other interesting thing we discovered is the fuel does
actually work moving off the 4/4 mark proving that big beefy 4 leggers
from Scandinavia can also be fuel efficient or maybe its the fuel gauge
that's non linear. As we get closer to the coast we see more life, this
morning there were a "pod" of dolphins swimming around the bow for a
while caught on video by Stubblebeard and according to our resident
ornithologist, Dodds the last of the tropical birds have left us. We
still see albatross and shearwater gliding over the waves. In addition
there are an increasing number of commercial vessels in our neighborhood
sometimes multiples. Last night we had the Yasa Pioneer a cargo ship
doing 12 knots that was on a collision course with us until the range
was around 5 miles when they changed course to pass us astern by 3
miles. Sometimes the VHF comes in real handy. At night you can see a
stream of planes equidistant flying west at the same altitude, one after
another. Last night mostly Abled Seaman Gilbert reported observing a
shooting star leaving a trail of pixie dust as it streaked across the
sky before flaming out in a spectacularly bright white pulse. The Seaman
as well as Dodds and Stubblebeard remain under close scrutiny from
Captain Bly.
Most books on board to do with major sailing disasters or discoveries of
wrecks long forgotten or wars in the pacific are now on their 2nd or 3rd
read as we continue to search for wind. Shore based support groups are
encouraging us to keep moving with the knowledge we will find some wind
in another 12 -18hrs...... Hope springs eternal.
N 37 33 W 128 11