Pacific Odyssey - Leg 2

Today was a day we thought we´d experience closer to the equator, in the doldrums. The sea was glassy smooth, there was hardly a swell, or else we´ve become so accustomed to it. There was absolutely no wind; we motored for most of the day with the tarps up. Toward evening the wind started picking up, initially just as small ripples across the water.  We raised a reefed main, the fore, jumbo and jib, and were able toturn off the motor, a very welcome relief.  Today we continued to eat pamplemousse and coconut, main ingredients of the french polynesian diet. We caught a 25 lb. dorado, also a local staple.  Chase and Jacob cut up the fish, covered it in a delicious batter of cornmeal, flour and spices and pan-fried the nuggets in olive oil.  It was amazing; it melted in our mouths.  We started playing slap Scrabble today with about 6 of us. It was very popular last offshore and we are using the same letters, bought inMexico, with an assortment of slightly different letters.  Suduko puzzles have also appeared on deck thanks to Kiesa from the last leg, and Jacob, whose oma gave him several books. Books are probably still the number one quiet activity, that and journalling.  Coconut carving continues; Jenna S.
and Lexy made beautifully smooth, pendant-sized pieces with a design engraved into the shell.  Simon continues to sand his half-coconut, hoping to make a nice bowl to put things in.  Tomorrow is Mary´s 19th birthday and when I came down into the aft cabin to begin getting the boys ready for bed, there were trainees crowded around the table with coloured paper, felt pens,tape, glue, beads, crepe paper etc., creating cards for her.  Sam
has been slaving away in the galley all day making a pamplemousse, custard, and shortbread crust type flan.  It is now cooling in the freezer for tomorrow.  We´re looking forward to it.  It´s been a nice day for just getting some small things done, for reading, and for hanging out together.  This is it, I´ve been way over my quota possibly every day.  It´s difficult as there is always so much to share.  We hope to reach Apataki early in the morning and go through the pass into the  lagoon when there is daylight.  It sounds like an amazing place with lots to see and do.  We passed by two beautiful tuamotus today, very low islands with sand and coconut trees, and the occasional small village.  The tuamotus are coral atolls; a ring of motus (small islands that may peak above the water) with some of them big enough to sustain a small population of people involved in copra or black pearl farming.  More tomorrow, good night, Bonice