This evening, after a dinner of tuna, rice, and salad, we passed the 500-mile distance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Tiki Drummer let everyone know with his musical announcement, and there was much clapping and dancing among the crew. We’re getting close!
Today we encountered light air that pretty quickly dropped below anything we could sail in. We started the motor, and noticed that the batteries weren’t charging. After some study, we determined that the engine-driven alternator was delivering only about 10 Amps (it normally puts out around 80 Amps). THe solar panels weren’t putting out much in the overcast conditions, so we shut down all non-essential electronics.
Later we discovered that by running the engine at idle, we were able to charge at about 25A. This isn’t a lot, but certainly enough to let us run what we need. Ultimately, not a big deal.
Position Aug 19, 12:01AM PDT: 46d 48m N, 136d 42m W. Course 070, speed 3.5 kts. Very light wind, will probably resume motoring. Likely ETA Friday Harbor sometime Aug 22 or 23.
Regards, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 46 10, 139 49, 040, 7.5, 325, 15, ETA Friday Hbr Weds (?) Bequia, 37 21, 146 43, 075, 8.7, 355, 15, Cassiopeia, 34 51, 136 41, 055, 5.1, 350, 7, Kotuku, 46 08, 140 10, 045, 7.5, 340, 13, Tiki Blue, 37 18, 132 59, 060, 4.5, 270, 10, Tiki J, 37 43, 127 55, 073, 6.5,195, 9, ETA Sunday PM Jamani, 37 55, 131 54, 075, 6, 211, 11, Spellbound, 36 49, 131 34, 060, 7, 220, 12, ETA Monday PM Medusa, 38 01, 126 00, 080, 7, 252, 3, ETA Golden Gate tomorrow PM Nozomi, 34 26, 137 34, 075, 4, 330, 5, Cherokee Rose, 28 15, 155 07, 340, 7.5, 045, 17, using SSB channel 6B
Debris Report: Tiki J spotted an overturned power boat, approx 30 ft length. Sunday PM at lat 37 35, lon 129 43.
VALIS report: A day of cold and gray sailing. We were quite pleased to be able to sail through the forecast wind shift (from south to NW), jibing in the early AM and only having a few hours of very light winds. We are now sailing slightly north of the bearing to Cape Flattery, hoping to avoid the need to tack as we approach land. Wind is good, and we are sailing close to the wind under reefed main and genoa. We had Paul’s famous “canned chicken enchiladas” for dinner. The crew asked for seconds, so I guess I haven’t lost my touch. Or, perhaps they were just very hungry.
Best, Paul / VALIS

Aug 17, 4:30 PM PDT Position 45d 50m N, 140d 53m W Course 050d mag, Speed 6.2 kt
This morning the wind shifted, as forecast, from the south to the north-north west. During the slow transition we always had enough wind speed to keep sailing, but it was slow going for a few hours. Now, instead of running deep with the wind behind us, we are sailing on port tack, with the wind well forward of the beam. We expect to be on this tack all the way to the Strait of Juan de Fuca (we are now 700 miles from that waypoint).
Last night was colder than the previous one, and we are all wearing warm clothes even during the day. During the moonless night the ocean phosphorescence is quite striking, and it is easy to be hypnotized my the fiery trail streaming from our rudder. During the evening watches we were entertained by two small dark birds (named “Frenchie” and “Reggie” by the crew). They flew through the rigging and over our heads, constantly chirping and squawking to each other. By first light they were gone.
Today the sky has been covered all day by a low overcast. It’s been dry, but the spindrift from our bow wave more than compensates.
Looking forward to coming home, Best wishes, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 45 06, 142 53, 040, 5.7, 180, 13 Bequia, 37 06, 149 34, 078, 6, 315, 5, motoring Cassiopeia, 34 16, 139 14, 074, 6.7, 020, 16, Kotuku, 44 21, 142 15, 350, 5, 180, 5, motoring Tiki Blue, 36 42, 135 39, 060, 6.5, 335, 12, Tiki J, 37 30, 131 21, 070, 7, 200, 9, Jamani, 37 53, 135 02, 090, 7, 008, 13, Spellbound, 36 07, 134 42, 060, 6.7, 320, 8, Medusa, 38 09, 129 46, 075, 9, 170, 11, Nozomi, 34 23, 140 06, 089, 5, 000, 15, Cherokee Rose, 26 56, 155 43, 355, 7.5, 045, 18, using SSB channel 6B
Hana Ho, 35 34, 142 52,,,,,,email position only
Debris report: At 8:30 AM PDT Aug 16 Spellbound spotted an overturned motorboat, covered in barnacles. Approx 20 ft length, no identifying markings seen.
VALIS report: Another good day of sailing. Fog in the early AM, clear sky by afternoon. We passed by a freighter, 2 miles off. Couldn’t see it through the fog, but heard its foghorn and engines. Were monitoring it via AIS and radar. We had delicious tuna tacos for dinner.

Aug 16, 7:15 PM PDT: Lat 45d 05m N, Lon 143d 38m W (about 820 miles west of the Oregon coast, at the latitude of Salem). We have 800 miles to go ’til the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and about another 80 miles after that to Friday Harbor. Our course is 070d magnetic, and our speed is about 7.8 kts.
The sailing has been great all day. Late last evening and this morning we were in some moderately dense fog. We could occasionally see the stars dimly, but our visual horizon was less than one mile. We are in the shipping lanes, and we passed by several ships, the closest approach being about two miles. Using our AIS and radar made this much less stressful. Since around noon, the sun has been out and the horizon clear.
It is definitely getting cooler, especially during the night watches. We are wearing thermal layers, and our full foul weather gear. There’s been no rain, and except during the foggy patches, the air has been dry. The boat is actually more pleasant down below, since it gets a bit hot, humid, and stuffy when sailing in the tropics. We are using blankets or sleeping bags though…
This is fish taco night! Rich usually makes these with Mahi-Mahi, but I know from personal experience that his tuna version is equally delicious.
We expect the wind to go light tomorrow, and shift from the southerlies we are currently enjoying to a more typical northerly. As our course will be largely due east, these new winds will be just fine. We are counting the miles and days to our arrival.
Regards, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 44 16, 145 58, 030, 5.5, 180, 13, Bequia, 36 28, 152 02, 028, 6.4, 100, 12, Cassiopeia, 34 35, 142 16, 072, 6.2, 020, 22, Kotuku, 43 12, 143 43, 070, 5.2, 100, 3, motoring Tiki Blue, 36 51, 138 26, 085, 6.5, 340, 25, Tiki J, 37 26, 134 34, 090, 7, 010, 20, Jamani, 38 32, 137 40, 100, 5, 002, 25, Spellbound, 35 37, 137 32, 090, 8.4, 020, 20, Medusa, 38 41, 133 17, 080, 9, 005, 20, Nozomi, 34 56, 142 28, 085, 5.1, 020, 22, Cherokee Rose, ,156 45, 013, 6.5, 060, 20, poor copy could not get latitude – rest is unconfirmed and may be incorrect
Lightspeed, 37 29, 142 54, , 7.2, 060, 17, email 13:13 HST no course given
Debris Reports: VALIS spotted more pilings. Kotuku spotted lumber, other debris probably from tsunami.
Still sailing here on VALIS. We will be turning towards Cape Flattery at sunrise. The wind has been holding — not strong but comfortable sailing at 5 to 7 kts all day. Caught a nice albacore today, dinner was baked tuna / rice / salad. Tuna tacos tomorrow. The crew spotted a shark’s fin this afternoon, it looked big.
Regards, Paul / VALIS

1:00 AM Aug 16 PDT Latitude 44d 20m W, longitude 145d 53m W Course 010d mag, speed 5kts We are about 925 miles due west of Newport Oregon.
Today we broke through the 1000-mile barrier, and the Tiki Drummer was practically frantic. We danced and clapped along to the Tiki’s infectious beat, and felt pretty good about being that much closer to home. This was also an occasion because we were treated to a great freshly-caught albacore dinner, with rice and a tasty salad. Not only is Lin a great sailor, she’s a great chef as well! Notice the stylish non-skid tablecloth.
It looks like the wind forecast is good for a right turn tomorrow, so we can start sailing directly for Cape Flattery (at the entrance to the Strait of Juna de Fuca). Every day we’re getting closer!
Best, Paul / VALIS

4:35 PM, PDT Position: 43d 38m N, 146d 29m W Course: 010d mag, Speed: 5.5 kts
We put out the fishing line this morning (using the cedar plug lure), reconnected the Monitor self-steering windvane, turned of the electronic autopilot, and sat back to enjoy the beautiful morning. We’ve still got clear sky with occasional bands of high clouds, easy seas, and decent wind from astern. The temperature is definitely dropping, and we will be donning thermals for our future evening watches.
After the hook had been in the water for about an hour, I looked back and noticed that there seemed to be more tension on the line. I easily pulled in the line hand-over-hand, and discovered that a medium-sized tuna was attached. It wasn’t putting up much of a fight (it had probably been towed for a while). We brought it on board, gave it a stiff dose of vodka in the gills to knock it out, and after some prep work Rich turned it into three one-gallon zip-loc bags full of steaks.
We will probably be having baked tuna for dinner, and of course fish tacos. There’s enough to last for at least two days.
We are about to break through the 1000-mile barrier (currently 1016 miles to go), and we are eagerly anticipating our arrival in port.
Best Wishes, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 42 15, 147 27, 015, 6, 170, 14, Bequia, 34 54, 152 35, 005, 6, 144, 3, motoring Cassiopeia, 34 39, 144 24, 089 5.1, 055, 10, Kotuku, 42 08, 145 58, 010, 5.5, 180, 9, Tiki Blue, 37 13, 141 37, 080, 6.2, 010, 17, Tiki J, 37 28, 138 15, 060, 7, 350, 20, Jamani, 38 46, 141 11, 075, 7, 011, 11, Spellbound, 35 46, 140 50, 090, 7, 015, 18, Medusa, 39 17, 137 39, 075, 9.5, 350, 20, wind 20+ Nozomi, 35 57, 144 57, 120, 6.0, 060, 10, Cherokee Rose, 22 28, 157 36, 359, 6, 050, 20, left Kaneohe a few hours ago
Debris reports: VALIS, Spellbound, Medusa spotted several large barnacle-encrusted pilings. Nozomi has had two net-in-prop incidents, one required diving and cutting, the other remedied using a boat hook.
VALIS continues to sail north. Now the forecast is telling us to turn slightly west for a while, before heading for the mainland. I wish these forecasters would make up their minds — how hard can it be??? (a weak attempt at humor.) Still no fish.
Best, Paul / VALIS

This morning around 7:30 AM PDT VALIS crossed the halfway point. By other ways of calculating we crossed it some time last night, but regardless, we now have fewer than 1160 miles to go before we reach Friday Harbor.
We will actually sail further than that, since our planned route takes us north before we turn east for the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but this milestone roused our Tiki Drummer mascot, who woke up all the off-watch sleepers. Clapping and dancing ensued, Rich brought out his halfway treats, Nicole opened a gift from a friend, and general gladness abounded.
As a special treat, Jenta and Nicole prepared a surprise breakfast of peach pancakes! We all enjoyed this delicious meal in the cockpit under warm and sunny skies. This was a very nice way to celebrate the first half of our trip.
After breakfast, Rich put out the fishing line again. There are still no finny takers, but with our sure-fire cedar plug lure it can’t be much longer before lunch and dinner is on the hook.
We’ve had an albatross come visiting us for several days now. We suspect he is checking out the returning Pac Cup fleet. He circles our boat a few times, then flies off.
Our northerly route is still looking good. We sailed through the night with no drama, and are making good time. The forecast shows usable winds ahead.
At 4:00PM PDT our position is 41d 33m N, 147d 57m W. Course: 010, speed: 6 kts.
Regards, Paul / VALIS