After further review of our options, we have decided to sail north after all. We took a little jog to the east this afternoon, but more analysis and head-scratching led to the conclusion that either route would work, and while the “sail under the high then fight upwind” strategy might be a little faster, the “over the high then turn east” method would be an easier sail. The “under” route was making some aggressive assumptions about our upwind performance in light air and ocean swells. The “over” route is more suited for our boat.
Everyone is feeling well and enjoying the incredible scenery. Rich put a hook in the water today, but had no bites. We’re hoping for fish tacos tomorrow though.
Regards, Paul /VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 39 59, 148 50, 000, 6, 170, 19, Bequia, 33 32, 154 50, 055, 7, 130, 12, motoring Cassiopeia, 33 51, 145 55, 057, 5.6, 060, 6, motoring Kotuku, 40 10, 147 13, 010, 6.5, 175, 12, sailing Tiki Blue, 37 20, 144 07, 055, 5.5, 100, 9, Tiki J, 37 26, 141 26, 070, 6, 030, 10, Jamani, 37 55, 143 29, 020, 5.5, 055, 6, Spellbound, 34 55, 142 47, 002, 6, 060, 10, Medusa, 39 27, 141 31, 074, 7.5, 020, 4, motoring Nozomi, 35 07, 146 32, 020, 6.5, 120, 10, sailing
Hana Ho, 34 01, 147 24, 064, 6.8, 105, 10, email Aug 13 0929 Lightspeed, 36 23, 147 44, , 5.5, 130, 6, email Aug 13 1215 HST TESA, 31 06, 154 14, , 5, 090, 5, email Aug 13 0500 PDT

Aug 13, 4:00PM PDT Latitude 39d 36m N, Longitude 149d 47m W Course 025d magnetic, Speed 7.5 kts
We’re still sailing to Friday Harbor, but we might be doing some zig-zagging to get there. We have been benefiting from a low-pressure system to the northwest, which has been compressing the NW corner of the Pacific High, and allowing us to sail almost directly for San Juan de Fuca. I was hoping that this would hold up until our arrival, but it appears that the High is re-establishing itself along our current creat-circle route, and throwing a barrier of light and confused winds in our path.
The quickest way through this mess may be to sail east, through a day of light winds, and then into the northerlies that commonly blow down the coast. We should have a somewhat-reasonable angle on these winds, and so be able to sail to our destination. The wind will be forward of the beam, but other than being colder, the conditions shouldn’t be any worse than when we were leaving Hawaii.
Since any forecast that is more than a few (five?) days into the future is suspect, our plans will always have to evolve to meet the actual conditions, but at the moment this seems like our best bet. So don’t be surprised to see our track start heading east!
In other news, Rich has the fishing line out. No bites yet…
Best Wishes, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 38 10, 151 36, 030, 7, 190, 20, Bequia, 32 07, 157 48, 048, 6.5, 130, 12, Cassiopeia, 32 57, 148 07, 057, 6.1, 075, 3, motoring Kotuku, 38 02, 149 45, 025, 7.4, 190, 20, Tiki Blue, 36 43, 146 32, 060, 6, ,,,light and variable winds Tiki J, 36 11, 144 02, 034, 6.2, 090, 7, Jamani, 36 05, 145 58, 062, 5.6, 020, 3, Spellbound, 33 15, 144 39, 050, 6, 055, 7, motoring Medusa, 38 52, 145 01, 050, 9, 190, 10, Nozomi, 33 47, 148 17, 057, 4.6, 000, 0, no wind
No report from Tessa.
Kotuku reported seeing a green flare (not a Perseid meteor) at 8:09 PM HST (I need to verify PM vs AM, presumably PM). Position 37 58N x 149 52W. We believe that this is a Navy signal flare, and not an emergency, but I phoned the report into the USCG Alameda, and USCG Hawaii via conference call. They requested additional information, and I will attempt to contact Kotuku via email and at tomorrow’s SSB net.
Good sailing last night and today. Seas are down and the boat is much more stable. The wind forecast for our approach to Juan de Fuca continues to change daily. None of the GRIB versions look good: nothing but light air. Oh well, we shall see.

Sunday, Aug 12, 1:30 PM PDT Lat 37d 16m N, Lon 152d 45m W Course 030d mag, Speed 7.5 kts
We’ve got wind, waves, and sun! We’ve been running downwind with the genoa poled out (“wing and wing”), and with the waves giving us the occasional push, we’ve been making great speed. Last night the winds were gusting up to 30 kts (more or less; I don’t trust the instrument calibration), so we put a deep reef in the main. This resulted in a much nicer ride, and we didn’t lose too much speed. The genoa pulls us forward, so we are relatively stable course-wise. We are rolling a bit, but one gets used to that. Eventually. So I am told.
Last night we were treated to some spectacular meteors, the precursors to the upcoming Perseid shower. The Perseids often have long, persistent, sparkling trails, and that’s what we were seeing. Tonight should be even better!
Best Wishes, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 36 02, 154 18, 030, 6.5, 200, 17, sailing Bequia, 30 22, 159 46, 016, 6.5, 121, 8, motoring Cassiopeia, 32 00, 150 36, 055, 5.8, 065, 3, motoring Kotuku, 36 28, 152 36, 040, 8, 190, 18, Tiki Blue, 35 39, 148 48, 020, 6, 180, 7, motoring Jamani, 34 46, 148 08, 040, 5.8, 345, 1.5, motoring Spellbound, 32 27, 147 05, 075, 6, 055, 7, motoring Medusa, 37 31, 148 43, 000, 6.5, 205, 9, motoring – much debris and some glass floats Nozomi, 33 15, 150 38, 042, 5, 150 4.3, motoring
No contact: Tessa, Tiki J
Net is now using SSB 4A until further notice.
We picked up our wind early this morning, and are now running wing and wing (poled out genoa). Seas are up but quite manageable. It looks like we will be hitting light air again in a few days, hoping that forecast improves. It could be a very slow last 500 miles as we approach the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Regards, Paul / VALIS

This morning at 3:40AM PDT the wind finally showed up, so we set the main and genoa, and killed the engine. We are now sailing more-or-less towards the strait of Juan de Fuca. This is much better then motoring through windless seas!
We will probably end up sailing a little to the north of the “as the crow flies” route, since we want to stay out of the lighter air that is forecast for the direct route. Our route will evolve as the new weather data arrives daily. Of course our route will also reflect the actual conditions we experience. Right now the wind is coming from the south at about 17 kts.
Our position at 9:45 AM PDT is 34d 50m N, 155d 41m W. Course is 040d magnetic and speed is 7.5 kts.
Regards, Paul / VALIS

We’ve got great wind and following seas. Our course takes us basically dead downwind, so we are using the trusty “wing and wing” configuration, with the main to port, and the genoa on a pole to starboard. This is a pretty stable arrangement and we are making great time. Earlier in the day we had tried main and pole-less genoa, first both to port (we were sailing too far east), and then to port (sailing too far north). The current sail plan is perfect.
The skies are overcast, but there is still enough sun getting through to burn. Hats and sunscreen are mandatory. It’s warm, but not as hot as in previous days.
Lin made quesadillas for lunch, and we have been sitting in the cockpit playing ukeleles while talking about movies, books, and resource utilization.
Position: 35d 26m N, 155d 00m W Course 030d mag, speed 7.7 kt
Best, Paul / VALIS

Boat, lat, lon, course, speed, wind direction, windspeed, comment
VALIS, 34 04, 156 19, 010, 5.2, 190, 5, motoring Bequia, 27 51, 160 26, 325, 7.5, 095, 15, Cassiopeia, 30 27, 152 28, 030, 6.8, 075, 9, Kotuku, 34 37, 155 07, 015, 5.2, 190, 5, motoring Tiki Blue, 34 01, 150 24, 010, 6, 180, 6, Tiki J, 33 23, 147 56, 046, 5.3, 043, 1.7, motoring Jamani, 33 25, 150 18, 048, 7, 130, 4, Medusa, 34 59, 149 21, 000, 5, 220, 4, reports lots of debris Tessa, 25 24, 157 32, 000, 6, 060, 15,
Hana Ho, 29 03, 155 13, 357, 8.5, 070, 13, 1100PDT email Lightspeed, 31 15, 152 51, 050, 6.5, 080, 15, 1345HST email Nozomi, 31 43, 153 04, 009, 6.2, 098, 8.3, 1700HST email
Other boats may be motoring, the ones indicated mentioned it.
Held net on SSB 4A. Very bad local noise on 8A due to battery charging while motoring. Noise OK on 4A, and good signals from fleet.
Relaxed day aboard VALIS, but I’m getting tired of motoring! We should see wind tomorrow, and fuel consumption isn’t too bad. Lots of sun. High clouds on the horizon might bring wind. More debris than on previous trips, but mostly small plastic junk, with some large floats and the occasional line or net. Dolphins riding on our bow last night.
Regards, Paul / VALIS

10:52 PM PDT, Aug 10 lat 33d 59m N, lon 156d 21m W Course 000d mag, speed 5.3 kts. Motoring.
It turned out that that mystery tanker just wanted to test some electronics (I know, it seems a little fishy to me too). They asked if we had received some test messages they had sent via a little-used feature of AIS. Since we don’t have that particular capability with our AIS system, we couldn’t help them. So, they turned back towards Los Angeles and never got closer than four miles to us.
Perhaps they were a Russian spy ship, monitoring the Navy exercises that have been taking place? We may never know.
We’re *still* motoring! This wind is proving elusive, but the wind direction has shifted, and we can see clouds in the sky that hint at the approaching low-pressure system we have been waiting for.
The sun is now setting, and we have just finished eating salad and spaghetti on the cockpit table. The guitar and ukeleles have been out, and it’s been an enjoyable day regardless of the wind situation.
Best, Paul / VALIS