Position: 33d 23m N, 156d 33m W Course / Speed: 000d magnetic @ 5.5 kts.
The bad news is that we’re still motoring. The wind has shifted somewhat, but it is still too light for real sailing. We are continuing north, according to plan. Actually, the current conditions do match the forecast pretty well.
The good news is that since leaving Kaneohe, we’ve used less than 15 gallons of diesel. Since conditions are so calm, Rich decided to top off the main tank using the jerry cans we have stowed on deck. We are carrying 25 gallons in these cans, and we used 2-3/4 cans to fill the tank. This is a lower rate of consumption than I usually figure on, so we still have plenty of motoring range (we left Kaneohe with a total of 125 gallons of fuel).
Still, that’s not enough fuel to motor all the way home, so we eagerly anticipate the wind.
It’s another beautiful day, with clear skies and puffy clouds. We have been seeing a lot of debris in these calm waters, mostly floating bits of plastic and fishing floats.
We’ve not seen any ships for a couple of days, but now we are near the “STOLT SUN” (mmsi 319459000), a 538 ft tanker allegedly heading for Los Angeles. The strange thing is that he has made a U-turn and is now pointed back in our direction. I spoke with the officer on deck (he sounded Russian), and he has promised not to hit us. They are currently going only one-half knot, and according to our courses and speeds, we shouldn’t be approaching any closer than four miles. We are now ten miles from them, and we can just make them out on the horizon. Sometimes tankers are told to divert to another port, or delay their arrival, due to oil market price fluctuations. I suppose this could be one of those cases.
Regards, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 32 06, 156 44, 000, 4.5, 100, 8.5, Bequia, 25 07, 159 29, 340, 8, 095, 15, Casseopeia, 28 17, 153 37, 359, 6.8, 065, 9, Kotuku, 32 51, 156 18, 010, 5.5, 135, 5, Tiki Blue, 32 15, 151 43, 015, 5, 090, 7, Jamani, 32 27, 153 12, 058, 6.2, 094, 4, Spellbound, 29 18, 150 40, 031, 6, 055, 11, Medusa, 32 46, 151 12, 030, 7.5,,, no wind motorsailing
Nozomi, 29 31, 154 12, 019, 7.4, 080, 6, email report 1700HST Lightspeed, 25 55, 154 25, 040, 6.5, 060, 15, email report 1100HST
Due to weak signals and high noise on SSB channel 8A, we moved the net to 4A. We will try 8A again tomorrow, but will probably switch to 4A.
No report from Tiki J.
Email reports from Maggie: Aug 09, 0114 HST: they are returning to Kaneohe, a crewmember has serious back pain. Aug 09, 1015 HST: Position 23 31, 156 46. Course 035, speed 4.0. Reports “all good”. (Are they no longer returning to Kaneohe?)
Slow day aboard VALIS. Slow sailing in light wind, about five hours motorsailing, Now sailing again, at about 4 kts due north (magnetic). We’re waiting for the wind to turn and come from the south, this should happen tomorrow. We saw a huge school of dolphins chasing their dinner. Calm seas, clear skies. More music in the cockpit, debris spotting, relaxing on a non-pitching deck. Minor sail and furling line repairs (due to chafe). Dinner was salad, pulled pork and cornbread.
Best, Paul / VALIS

2:30 PM PDT: 31d 21m N, 156d 46m W
We have definitely entered the light winds, just as forecast. The wind is still blowing from the east, but is down to about 6 kts, and our boatspeed is around 4kts, still sailing north. It won’t be long before we start motoring, but for now we are enjoying the gentle motion and beautiful blue sky, puffy white clouds, and deep blue sea. Even in this light air, the Monitor windvane is keeping us pointed in the right direction.
Yesterday we had two tropicbirds and a booby circling the boat for several hours. Occasionally the booby would dive into the sea, and float for a while. We couldn’t tell if it ever caught a fish, but VALIS was causing the flying fish to scatter, and the three birds were intently scanning for their dinner.
Speaking of dinner, last night we had a green salad, and some pre-cooked BBQ chicken over brown rice. Very tasty!
OK, our speed is under 2 kts, and the sails are slatting. And now, 30 seconds later, we’re back up to a blazing 3.5 kts. I’m trying to hold off the inevitable motoring, but it won’t be long. Hey, we’re doing over 4 kts! Perhaps we can hold out a little longer…
Best, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 29 58, 156 52, 000, 7.4, 100, 13, Cassiopeia, 26 22, 154 48, 025, 6.6, 060, 12, Kotuku, 30 52, 157 02, 000, 6.5, 100, 10, Tiki Blue, 30 56, 153 32, 000, 5.5, 090, 8, Tiki J, 30 14, 151 33, 026, 6, 090, 10.5, Jamani, 31 16, 155 48, 030, 7, 113, 7.3, Spellbound, 27 27, 152 31, 031, 7, 060, 11, relay via Kotuku Medusa, 30 36, 153 18, 030, 8, 090, 10, Bequia, 22 21, 158 27, 320 8, 090, 18, relay via Kotuku
Course, direction in magnetic degrees, all reports via SSB channel 8A
Email reports: Messages since Aug07 1016 PDT ============== 1700 HST 8 August 2012 27 13.027N 155 15.100W CRS 010M SPD 7.0
All OK onboard. Making good progress in reasonably comfortable conditions.
Robb -… DE WDE7458@sailmail.com Aug08 0829 (this is from Nozomi) ============== 8/8/2012 13:30 HI..26 43 155 20 heading 30 deg speed 8.2 kt wind 17-18kt at 60 deg all well..Lightspeed ==============
More good sailing today aboard VALIS. Mostly steady winds, sailing 000 magnetic all day. Visited by tropicbirds and a booby, these hung around for several hours. Passes a 60-ft power boat (research?) heading for Hawaii. I couldn’t make out their name. We’re getting ready for light and changing winds up ahead.
Best, Paul / VALIS

Position: 29d 05m N, 157d 02m W. Course 355 magnetic @ 6.5 kts.
We’re still sailing north, which is exactly what we want to do. The winds are lighter, and the seas calmer, as we approach the Pacific High. We will probably be doing some motoring before we pick up the winds from the southwest, and west, and northwest, that should carry us home.
Last night we sailed under the stars, with the occasional minor squall. For much of the night we had the constellation Cassiopeia just to the right of our mast. The North Star was hidden by the mainsail, but it was definitely there. A few shooting stars were seen, and it was a glorious night.
This morning we switched off the electronic autopilot, and hooked up the Monitor windvane. This amazing mechanical contraption steers the boat according to the wind direction, and it has been doing a great job. The monitor uses no electrical power (the autopilot uses a fair amount), so this, and the sunny skies, should mean less engine-time needed for battery charging.
It’s still hot, but the calmer conditions let us open some hatches to let the cooling breeze into the boat. This is a good day to relax!
Best, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment VALIS, 27 33, 157 16, 000, 6.5, 080, 14, Kotuku, 28 11, 157 03, 000, 8, 090, 16, Tiki Blue, 28 45, 164 42, 025, 6, 090, 11, Tiki J, 28 11, 152 54, 010, 7.3, 090, 18, relay via Medusa Jamani, 28 52, 156 48, 000, 7, 085, 11, Spellbound, 25 14, 154 05, 024, 6, 075, 13, Nozomi, 25 12, 156 19, 015, 7.2, 093, 16, Medusa, 27 55, 154 51, 020, 8.5, 080 10, Cassiopeia, 24 20, 156 00, 015, 6, 090, 10, relay via Nozomi
Lat/Lon in degrees and minutes, course and wind direction in degrees magnetic.
Nozomi(?) received email from Darwind, they were unable to hear the net on 8A. I will hail 4A and 6A at the start of tomorrow’s net.
Another fine day of sailing here on VALIS. Crew is feeling great. Chicken Fajitas for dinner (thanks, Lin!) I have mild sunburn.
Note to VALIS blog readers: This is the daily position report that I send to Pac Cup HQ.
Best, Paul / VALIS

We’re still sailing north in good conditions: 15 kt winds from the east, 4-foot seas, sunny skies with the occasional clouds. We had Nicole’s home-made lentil soup for dinner last night and we’re all feeling great.
Our position is 26d 22m N, 157d 26m W, sailing a course of 355d magnetic, at about 7 kts.
You may have heard that the Pac Cup racer “Hula Girl” lost her mast yesterday afternoon. I don’t have many details, but she was 3 or 4 miles out of Kaneohe when the mast came down. The crew was unhurt, and they did not request assistance. They cut away the mast, began motoring back to Kaneohe Yacht Club, and are presumably now tied up and safe. I did speak with another boat who was leaving Kaneohe at the same time, and they reported fairly gentle conditions. I’m sure we will learn more soon, but be assured that on VALIS we’ve been having great conditions.
Jenta and Nicole have begun their marine debris survey, where they scan for floating junk for a half-hour at a time. Spotted so far: one orange 2-ft diameter fishing buoy. I’m sure that as the seas get smooth they will see lots more debris.
Best to all, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment, comment VALIS, 24 52, 157 37, 355, 7.5, 090, 18,, Tiki J, 26 05, 154 25, 063, 6.1, 101, 15,, Kotuku, 25 25, 157 24, 000, 8.0, 090, 20,, Tiki Blue, 26 32, 155 18, 030, 6.5, 090, 13,, Jamani, 26 04, 157 16, 000, 8, 072, 16,, Spellbound, 23 21, 155 53, 027, 7, 070, 12,, Nozomi, 22 45, 157 22, 015, 7, 090, 19,, Medusa, 25 01, 156 26, 015, 9, 095, 15,, Cassiopeia, 22 33, 157 14, 030, 56, 090, 19,,
Course, direction in magnetic degrees, all reports via SSB channel 8A
Medusa reports encounter with USN ship “WATERS” at 1900 HST, 25 09 x 157 26. WATERS is conducting a survey and is not transmitting AIS.
Another great day of sailing. Seas moderate (4-6 ft). Evening squalls with rain. 50% average cloud cover. Lots of stars now. This morning Jenta and I had a jam session in the cockpit, her on ukelele, and me on my new $50 boat guitar. Appetites have returned, lentil soup for dinner.
Any details on Hula Girl?
-Paul / VALIS

We’ve been sailing north for about 24 hours now, and have been making good speed in great conditions. The seas are moderate, and the crew, while not quite 100%, are getting their sea legs. Everyone is able to stand their watch, and spirits are high.
Last night at midnight PDT, VALIS was net control for the returning Pac Cup fleet radio net. We collected some emailed position reports, and spoke with Kotuku, Jamani, and Tiki J over the radio. The combined report was then emailed to Pac Cup HQ.
Last night we sailed under several squalls (and we’re under a significant rain shower right now). We reefed the sails for the higher winds, and have decided to keep them reefed today. We are still sailing at 7+ knots, so there’s no need for more stress.
On VALIS we’ve decided to have an evening watch schedule with two people on watch at a time. Each watch lasts three hours, and halfway through your watch your watch-partner changes. Here is the sequence for each 1-1/2 hours:
Paul / Rich Rich / Jenta Jenta / Lin Lin / Nicole Nicole / Paul
This repeats, and by morning we each have had two three-hour watches, with 4-1/2 hours off in between each watch. During the daylight hours we also have two people on watch, but it’s a flexible system. I think this is going to work out well.
After sunrise this morning Jenta brought out her ukelele, and I (Paul) uncased my new boat guitar. Jenta and I enjoyed playing music and Rich didn’t complain.
Our position at 7:15 PM PDT is 24d 16m N, 157d 42m W, sailing 355d Mag at 7.6 kts.
Best wishes to all, Paul / VALIS

Today at around 6:40 PM PDT (3:40 PM HST) we left Kaneohe Bay and are sailing north. The VALIS crew is Rich, Lin, Jenta, Nicole, and me (Paul). You know Rich, Lin is a friend and experienced sailor from Vancouver, and Jenta and nicole are students associated with the NOAA Marine Debris Research program. Jenta and Nicole will be conducting debris surveys and some collection / tagging from VALIS during our trip.
The conditions are great, we are sailing almost due north (which is what we want), and the crew is getting along well. The sun has just set and I am preparing for the midnight (PDT) radio net where some of .the returning racers will be checking in.
More tomorrow, Paul