Harmonica
Greetings all
Current Time 1800

Current Location North 42 deg. 29.0 min. West 126 deg. 9.4 min
70 miles offshore from Cape Blanco, Oregon (29 miles north of the California border) or for you paddlers - just opposite Rogue River.

For those that did not receive our first email - our appologies - we are still attemmpting to get the addresses sorted out on the computer. The computer by the way lept off the chart table the other day and attempted to self distruct on the floor. Amazingly enough, upon putting it back together it still works. A pat on the back for Compaq.

For those that got our first correspondence; Janet won the scrabble game, Gord continues to brush up on his Celestial Navigation (he insists that we are not really lost - just momentarilly misplaced), and Betty has become addicted to "Stack Challenge" a type of "Tetris" game (her way of dealing with being lost).

We had a Grey Whale sighting on Friday (quite close), and numerous birds have also been seen.

Rick Ellis, our shore support person via HF radio, predicted that we would meet up with the tuna fleet early Saturday morning. He couldn't have been more correct. 0200 and they were coming into sight - 0400 and we were right in the thick of it. At one point it looked like a small city lit up at night. A little later, in the black of night, Gord had an altercation with the main sheet on top of the aft cabin. Some how the topping lift had become one with the spreader in the middle of a jibe manouver. Betty, Gords watch partner at the time, says it was like watching Gord wrestling a very large and angry snake. Great air time manouvers AND he managed to stay dry. There is also a rumored sighting of a semi naked man without harness on deck in the midst of the fracus. He shall now be known as the Admiral.

Since hitting West 126 deg. we have been running downwind wing on wing (goose winging) during the day and under headsail at night. This is taking us pretty well due south along West 126 deg. (now known as 126 street) Little bit of a rock and roll ride as the seas build but very manageable.

"Sally" the Sailomat wind vane steering system is working flawlessly, as are the solar panels that continue to keep the batteries topped up. The engine has not run since leaving Juan de Fuca.

Deb & Gord have mastered the Lee Cloth Limbo in the V berth (wait for the pictures) and according to Deb her legs actually stayed on the berth last night.

Georgous sunsets and sunrises and very few other boats out here with us (other than the tuna fleet). The star viewing at night has been great, lots and lots of shooting stars, and the other night the northern lights were awesome!

Brian and Betty got a rude awakening this morning when a large wave hit broad side, flowed onto the deck, and found the one open port hole into their aft cabin. Quote from the cabin "Damn that water comes in fast".

Tonite's supper
Pacific Ocean Cucumber and Tomatoe Salad
Harmonica Curried Rice
Cape Blanco Pork Ragout
Wing on Wing Brownies


Signing off for now, and we will try to get back in touch in a couple of days.

Dave & Janet
Gord & Debbie
Brian & Betty