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