Good afternoon from VALIS, going faster.
Position at 3:00 PM PDT: Lat 30deg 19min N, Longitude 133deg 14min W.
Course is 225deg magnetic, speed is an encouraging 7.5 kts. Wind is about 13 knots out of the northeast.
We are still sailing around the southeast corner (ridge) if the Pacific High. Weather forecasts look encouraging, and we are trying to stay in the 10-15 knot wind zone. We are sailing to a waypoint about 150 miles in front of us, but our course in any case is almost directly towards Hawaii.
We have been flying the symmetrical spinnaker since yesterday afternoon, and it is a very nice sail. Our 9:00AM yesterday to 9:00AM today run was 162 nautical miles, which we feel is pretty good for us, for this part of the course. We have been hand-steering almost exclusively, to keep the spinnaker filled as the swells slew the boat around, and as the wind varies in speed and strength.
Last night we had spaghetti for dinner, with a very nice meat sauce that Andrew had prepared and frozen before we left. Evening watches started at 9:00 with the Ville/Paul team, then Andrew/Daniel at 1:00AM, and finally Ville/Paul at 5:00AM. This morning, Daniel made pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast, which was enjoyed by all (our appetites have definitely returned).
Oh, yes — yesterday, we almost caught a fish, maybe. The pole started straining, so we hauled in the line, but the leader had broken. Today we might rig a heaver leader.
I am attaching a google earth file of our last day’s sail.
Aloha,
Andrew, Daniel, Paul, and Ville

valis-jul08.kmz