Position: 14 degrees, 57 minutes North; 111 degrees 57 minutes West

Our friend the Red Footed Booby

We had a pretty slow night. Not much wind and it’s 1000 and still only 3-6 knots (3 right now and we’re only going about 2.5 knots. At one point last night the knotmeter read; “0.00”. Now that’s slow! We’re towing a water generator at night and it was hanging straight down. The water gen is essentially a propeller and short shaft on a very stiff rope. Towed behind the boat, it spins a generator that makes electricity. We don’t use it during the day since the solar panels are working then and it interferes with fishing, but at night it keeps the batteries charged while we’re using the shortwave and nav lights. Between the solar panels and water gen, we haven’t had to turn on the engine to charge batteries at all this trip. In fact, we have only turned it on once for an hour to avoid a commercial fishing boat who was determined to pass way too close. The wind was very light, so I opted for the conservative approach of making a 90 degree course change to keep way away. As always I tried to raise him on the radio and as always, they ignore the calls.

(A note since I originally wrote this in the morning. It’s now around 1600, there wind stayed low to non-existent all day so sometime after lunch we decided to put up the spinnaker. Now Charisma is playing “America’s Cup Yacht”. With the spinnaker, we’re a accelerating such that the apparent wind moves 30 degrees forward in just a few seconds as the chute fills and rapidly pulls Charisma forward. We’re actually doing 4.5 knots boat speed on 5 knots apparent wind. Not bad.

So, about last night and the Booby Havoc. These are very silly birds. There are a bunch of them around, probably nesting on some islands that are a hundred miles north of us. Sooo…they are pretty tired from all that flying and every single one that flies by comes over to check us out; “oh look a nice tall mast to land on!” Of course the mast is swinging through a huge arc, being 50 some feet off the deck of a rolling boat, so Booby Havoc! As they try to land on the mast they realize their mistake and either get hit by the mast/wind vane or veer off at the last second. Two have hit the vane. The first bent it so it wasn’t usable and remarkably the second one bent it back the other way enough so that it works again most of the time now. One of the more clever boobies figured out that the spreaders were a safe alternative and spent the night perched there. I prefer that perch to damaged masthead gear although it gives a new meaning to the concept of “poopdeck” after a Booby has sat above the deck, for four or five hours.

Last night by chance I discovered a Booby Deterrence System. It only works at night but that’s when they want to roost on the mast. Last night, I brought out our new, powerful searchlight to help in a project. As I was coming up into the cockpit I saw a Booby flying just above the backstay trying to decide whether there was a good place to land. Instinctively (hunter that I am) I hoisted the spotlight and pulled the trigger. The result was instant Booby Madness. The light blinded and confused him leading him to hit the backstay whereupon he “stalled”. Barely recovering from the stall, he crash-landed right in the cockpit sliding across the seat and coming to rest against the scuppers…just a foot and a half from a startled Ann Adams who was innocently steering the boat, minding her own business. The Booby just sat there looking at Ann (and she him wondering what had just fallen from the sky mere inches from her head in the middle of the Pacific Ocean). He was looking dazed, confused and perhaps more than a bit embarrassed. For my part, I was whooping with joy having found a secret weapon in my quest to rid Charisma of marauding Boobies. We took a picture (probably further confusing Mr Booby with the flash) so we could prove this and finally the Booby leapt for his freedom splashing down like a plane in a carrier landing gone bad. I am quite sure he won’t be back.

In the meantime, armed with my new weapon I scan the night sky for incoming Boobies and when they are silly enough to attempt a night landing on the top of my mast I blast them with the blinding light from the spotlight that my sister Sue got me for my birthday. Thanks Sue. The unintended use of your gift has so far saved us from further Booby induced damage.

Here’s a few notes to catch up with folks: Cliff; that’s hilarious that PH Record is going to publish the picture of us all on Espiritu Santo. We’ll look forward to seeing a copy. Send a note and let us know how it came out. Also, you’re right, the moon is most amazing right now surrounded by gazillions of miles of water. The horizon is amazing and the moon is so bright you can almost read by it. (Comment from Ann: The moon, which is actually full tonight, was still setting in all of its splendor as the sun started rising behind me on my shift last night. Not something you get to see everyday!)

Sue; glad to hear Ann’s sewing machine is getting a work-out. Ann is channeling good thoughts toward Missy’s project. On board before we left Ann made a sail cover for the storm jib so we can leave it on deck and it won’t be in the way. I imagine the sewing machine will come out again soon as the sun is getting so intense it would be nice to have a bimini (cockpit cover). We have some Sunbrella fabric and there’s already a zipper on the dodger where the thing is supposed to attach.

Elan; thanks for the info on the trades. We’re in a transition zone and I am looking forward to more solid wind. It’s been mostly less than 10 knots which is why we’re only putting in 90-100 miles per day right now. Also makes night watches more of a challenge because the wind vane won’t steer when it gets really light. Last night I steered most of my watch from 2100 to 0300. I would just aim the boat, tighten down the helm brake, close my eyes and then wake up when my forehead hit the wheel as I nodded off. Recheck helm and repeat. Will be nice when Wilson can just steer all night, but we need solid 7 knots of wind to do that. Good advice on 120 degrees. We’re heading down the rhumb line for now with 128 degrees being our “do not pass” line. Somewhere as we approach 120 we’ll start to look for a “hole” in the ITCZ, duck through and try to dodge bad weather.

Joan: See, it is not Ann who is falling asleep on watch! (This is obviously by Ann.) I spend my watches reading iBooks (just finished The Paris Wife – good read) or playing Scrabble. Not as fun as Words with Friends but keeps me entertained. I have even resorted to Angry Birds a time or two. Luckily I was able to use the iPod and music to keep me awake during my watch last night. Nothing like dancing when no one can see you! (Maybe this is the fishing problem?!) Night Watches: As you probably have deduced, we are not sticking to the 3 hours on, 3 hours off watch system that we originally intended. It works great to go as long as you are awake and then wake the co-captain (see how I snuck that in!) to change shifts. Bob is particularly good about taking longer shifts when the air is light and I really appreciate it.

Jerry; Hmm, a wind dance. We’re already doing a “fish dance”. Problem is that’s not working, so I’m not sure if we’ll do any better with a wind dance, although it IS fun to watch. Ann’s getting quite creative.

For all; thanks again for following us. Also, I have a request. I forgot to research the history behind “Shellbacks” clearing across the equator. Since we’re both Shellbacks at this point, we need to know what ceremony we should perform. Any thoughts/research would be helpful, but please keep it to a paragraph so our email doesn’t get bombed by a long file. I know there’s hazing rituals out there that we need to uphold.