Pacific Odyssey - Leg 5

We left Chuuk at mid-day, the customs official waving at us from the dock. The wind blew strong and we had very big seas coming through the pass, with the bow of the grace reaching high over the on coming waves and crashing down as the wave moved underneath her. Once we got through the pass we raised the trysail, foresail and jumbo and bore off onto a starboard tack toward Guam. The engine is off and we are sailing along quite swiftly. There is a side to side motion while leaning over to the port side and water sprays over the rails regularly, soaking everything. During dishes, Sean and Graham were soaked with a wave that came right down into the galley. For most of this offshore trip we have sailed on a port tack and starboard side sleepers have had the advantage of not having to use their lee cloths to stay in their bunks: finally port side sleepers can snuggle into the hull side of their bunk. We saw a pod of about 50 small dolphins leaping out of the water towards the boat, we were spellbound: their entire body was out of the water and they moved so quickly and lithe. Rain and wind squalls visit us regularly though the air remains warm. Below decks is very warm. Most trainees are feeling well, just a few sick ones but everyone is definitely feeling better than on our passage from Madang. We were all relieved to turn off the motor and feel the grace move along under sail only, surging powerfully through the water. It should be a quiet, albeit warm sleep. Good night, Bonice.