Pacific Odyssey - Leg 6

Today we started sailing due east, heading for a ´target´ point of 165
degrees longitude, where we will head south across the trades towards
Hawaii.  If winds stay light, we may be able to turn down sooner and cut
some mileage off our passage.  It has been a good day and we are all
enjoying being out at sea again, knowing that our days together in this
tight-knit community, without the attractions of a city to pull us apart,
are few.  The weather during the day is getting warmer and the skies are
mostly sunny; the air is still quite cool, like early spring.  The mood on
the boat is good; ditty bags are nearly finished, Molly has started a second
hat, Leighsa, Gillian, and Kaitlin are well into their scarves, and I´m well
into a hat I´ve started 3 times and pulled completely apart once.  The
Intermediates have their final exam tomorrow, Monday, and have been studying
lights and signals, the bouyage system, chart work, terms etc.   Jose gave a
review on all the key points, pulling out charts, triangles, dividers, and
questions for them to practice.  Leighsa finished all her Intermediate level
requirements today; she feels pretty good about it.   Card games are still
going strong in the hold during the evenings; Noah looks forward to them all
day.  Arwen and James are baking brownies right now for everyone to enjoy
later on tonight.   When we were on Midway we all received a publication put
out by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  I finally read the entire
pamphlet yesterday; it was well-written and very informative.  I may have
given some incorrect information regarding albatross numbers etc.  If I did,
I apologize to the Midway islanders.  If you look up midway.fws.gov on your
computers you may be able to find the same information.  Today Simon and I
were on lunch dishes with port watch, dumping the slop over the leeward
side.  Simon asked me, "Mom, do the albatross eat this slop too?"  He
remembered that their food comes from the ocean.  His question made me
realize that we are seeing the albatross differently now that we have been
on Midway; it has affected us and the albatross has become a more personal
part of our world.  We still see them soaring around the ship, just a few at
a time, and we now know that they are looking for food for those fluffy,
basketball-sized chicks of theirs.  Albatross couples take turns flying at
least 300 miles offshore looking for food.  They regurgitate the food for
the chicks.  The slop we dump over the side is something the albatross can
use as food for themselves or their babies; it´s kind of nice to be a part
of their food supply.  Today we caught the first fish big enough to keep, a
Dorado, or mahi mahi, or dolphin fish, different names for the same fish.
Jacob set up the rod in the morning and Sophie and Maddie took turns reeling
in the fish when we heard the line spinning out.  The Dorado is a beautiful
fish; when they are alive and in the water they are bright yellow and
turquoise blue.  As soon as they leave the ocean though, their brilliant
colors fade quickly.  They have a big head and taper quite drastically to a
narrow tail.  Their meat is white and very good tasting.  Skipper had a
large group of trainees around him while he demonstrated gutting and
filleting a fish.  Molly filleted the second half of the fish with Jacob´s
help.   Gillian cut the fish in small squares, covered them in flour, crumbs
and spices, and then pan fried them . . . ´fish nuggets´ we call them, after
the legendary fish frying escapades of Scott and Chase from the previous
legs.   The fish nuggets were delicious; Gillian did an excellent job.  We
had Sunday service this afternoon; we discussed ´Boundaries´ and the freedom
afforded by them.  Skipper read a chapter from "Fearfully and Wonderfully
Made" by Phillip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand.  After the service Skipper gave
an update on our passage so far and how he sees the remainder of it
unfolding, if the weather goes as predicted.   He also offered a ´lecture
series´ including sessions on Basic Weather, Building the Pacific Grace, and
Planning an Offshore Voyage.  A sign-up list was posted to see what the
interest level was and nearly every trainee put his or her name down for all
three topics.  It should be an interesting week.  We had a beautiful sunset
this evening; our daylight lasts later into the evening than it has the
entire offshore.  After supper we can still be on deck without our
headlamps; very nice.  I think we are now 4 hours behind Victoria, B.C.
daylight savings time.  Tonight Sophie, Leighsa, Gillian, and I played ´Slap
Scrabble´ on deck in the stern while Jose´s watch discussed Marriage and ate
their supper of Chicken Caesar Pitas.  Katie made pitas for the first time
and they worked out incredibly well.  Adam was the master pita dough roller
tonight; he too did well, it´s a long job.  We are still enjoying fresh
fruit and vegetables from Midway; it seems a small thing, but we notice it
and appreciate it.  This morning each watch had real orange juice for
breakfast, thanks to a gift from Barry on Midway.  We are motoring with only
the foresail up, the wind is too light to keep the trysail up; it just flaps
around which is wearing on the sail and the rigging.  There is still a
swell, but we hardly notice it anymore.  Our night is beautifully clear and
the moon is still very full; it´s nice to be on deck . . . another thing to
remember once we´re home.  Thank you to everyone for your good wishes for a
safe passage via emails and phone calls from trainees on Midway; we do feel
you following us closely.  Until tomorrow, good-night, Bonice.