Day 15

In Grade 5 our class performed a poem, and no doubt recognising my future potential I was given the solo role of the Captain, I don't remember his name, perhaps Columbus?, which consisted of something like "Sail on, sail on, sail on and on and on" at the end of each verse. And sail on we do. It's been a dull few days, too much wind and wave, so every now and then there is a big enough roll to spill your cup of coffee. Now that really is not acceptable is it?
I should never complain about our wonderful wind though. The sun shines on the equator and makes the air hot, so what does it do? Then, nature abhorring a vacuum, some other air rushes in to replace it. In our case, in the southern hemisphere, that is the south-east trades, which carry us day and night, and will eventually bring us almost all the way to Australia.
Buckets of rain last night, some of which found their way into the cockpit so the cushions smell like washing left in the machine for 2 days.
On a brighter note, this is a landmark day. We have only another 1,000 miles to go and at recent speeds that will only take one more week! To put it in a local perspective, this Galapagos to Marquesas is like going from Hobart, as the crow flies, which you wouldn't, to Cairns. Then turning around and coming back as far as Launceston. Also unlikely. A long way! The Marquesas are reputed extremely beautiful but even Launceston would look pretty good after this much ocean. A glass of wine is going to look pretty special too. We usually avoid alcohol at sea, especially now there are just two of us. Things can get exciting at the drop of a hat and you want every remaining brain cell working for you!
You are probably wondering how this blog is getting updated from the middle of the ocean?
Poor Matthew Flinders, like me, thought he would be able to secret his Ann away on his ship for a long voyage, but the powers that be thwarted both of us. In his case the Admiralty, in mine the Anne. They, spent the next ten years sending each other a letter whenever the postman was going past Matthew, which can't have been too often nor too quickly. We modern tragically seperateds however, write at least once a day, using the HF radio, computer and Russel's Pactor modem which he so generously lent me. I know what she is cooking for dinner and whether she's had coffee yet,even what Sabine is playing on the piano, so don't feel sorry for me way out here in the ocean. I send blog text to Anne, she puts it up on the net, and I'll add a few photos when I find internet again.