Let me get right to the interesting part: Yesterday we saw crew friction, if not dissention, and outright violence. It seems that Phil and John were preparing our dinner of baked beans and sliced hot dogs, and the question was raised of how many hot dogs to use. John suggested that five be cut up, […]

Seas, squalls, and not much sun — that has been the situation the last few days, and yesterday was no exception. Nothing major, but enough to have us reefed down and not sailing as fast as we could if the swells were smaller. Our course continues to be west of due north (see attached Google […]

One day is pretty much like another here in VALIS. We continue to sail north, at about 6 knots (sometimes less, sometimes more), with 15-20 knot winds and 6-8 ft seas. Our current position, at 1:12 PM PDT, is latitude 30deg 10 min N, longitude 156deg 58min west. Now that we have made it north […]

Good afternoon from VALIS! We are at latitude 23deg 09min N, longitude 157deg 16min W, sailing at about 6.5 kts on a course of 15 degrees magnetic (mostly north, a bit to the east). Last night we reefed down twice as some moderate squalls moved over us. We had heavy rain and winds up to […]

Today we continue to sail just a little west of due north, towards the Pacific High (a moving target to be sure). Our speed is typically 6+ knots, and the seas have calmed from yesterday. Our position at 1:40 PM PDT is latitude 25deg 45min N, longitude 158deg 18min W. Last night we reefed the […]

Here is the Google Earth trackfile for the previous 24 hours or so (through noon today). valis-jul27.kmz

Greetings from VALIS, sailing home. Our noon position is latitude 23deg 18min N, longitude 157deg 52min W. We are sailing due north (true north) at a speed of about 6+ knots. The weather is good, with 12 knot winds from the northeast, patchy clouds, and warm temperatures. Last night we got a VHF radio call […]

Good morning from VALIS, heading north. Yesterday we learned that “Mureadritta’s XL”, one of the Pacific Cup sailboats heading home, was sunk by a whale — the crew is all safe and aboard a fishing boat which is taking them back to Hawaii. The sinking took place about 200 miles north and slightly east of […]

———- Original Message ———- To: (valisblog@sailvalis.com) From: Paul Elliott (valis@gmn-usa.com) Subject: Coming Home Date: 7/25/2006 7:54:36p I inadvertantly re-named two of our crew. We are: Paul Elliott, John Clinton, Phil Littman, and Davey Glander Sorry, Phil and Davey, Paul

We are under sail and heading for home. Valis and her crew left Kaneohe Bay Tuesday at 6:45 PM PDT, along with the sailboat “Stray Cat Blues”. We are now about ten miles north of Kaneohe Bay, heading due north (magnetic), under full sail and with the Monitor windvane steering. Stray Cat Blues is heading […]