#60 NOW June 24, 2005 0240 Zone Time UTC -10 hours S13’26.5 W162’22.0, Temp. 80.2, Pressure 1015mb, Heading 276’ magnetic Wind from the SE @ 15, Seas are 4-6 feet, Para-vanes down Miles Completed 642, Miles to Go 43, SOG (speed over ground) 5.5 kts. 1400 RPM Good Morning, There are some disadvantages to writing in an effort to stay awake in the small hours of the morning. Having just read over #59 NOW there is an obvious error in our position and heading. I usually just copy the top four lines from a previous NOW and make changes as appropriate. Unfortunately, I did not make the changes. However, the electronics on the boat are more reliable and show no signs of fatigue. As you can see from the above, we are soon to reach Suwarrow Island. ETA is now 1042. By the time we drop anchor in the lagoon, our estimate that we made on leaving Bora Bora of around noon on Friday will be right on. This certainly is an advantage of motor cruising over sailing. Our passage has been a little rough, at least the first part with 8 to 12 foot seas. The last half has been much easier with 4-6 foot seas. It has been very hot and humid during the day. So, we have been starting the air-conditioner around nine each morning and running it until sunset. Occasional rain showers have kept the boat clean, and at night, the full moon is poking its face around the clouds. I always enjoy standing out on the Portuguese bridge watching the sea pass by in the moonlight. After leaving Bora Bora, we passed little Maupiti Island and finally 165 miles from Bora Bora we passed within 5 miles of tiny Motu One atoll. This atoll had 10 people on it when a hurricane (called cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere) hit in 1997. The sole survivor was a woman who tied herself to a coconut tree. Cyclones can have devastating effects on these low-lying atolls. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/oceania/bora.htm Carol has been adapting to sea life with great ease. She has been a tremendous help in keeping watch and providing great meals. It always amazes everyone to find out how much work there is to do while cruising. There are of course the usual things, such as cleaning and preparing meals, which become a little more difficult by things falling out of the refrigerator when the door is opened and dishes flying off the table when the boat makes a sudden roll. Then there are oil and filters to change, engine checks to make, logbook entries, navigation, and of course, the every present demands of the water maker. Yet, there are moments when a glorious sunset makes it all worthwhile. During this five-day passage, we have not seen another boat or for that matter much sea life, just a few birds. This should soon change as we near Suwarrow, which is known for its sea life and colorful coral reefs. Suwarrow is said to be one of the most idyllic islands in the South Pacific. At least as far as looks go. A Russian explorer in 1814 discovered this atoll, although he was apparently not the first European to set foot on it. There is evidence that a Spanish galleon met its demise on the reef in 1742. In 1855, the discovery of buried Spanish treasure sent treasure seekers to the island. The most famous of these was Tom Neale who lived on the island for several years and wrote a book with the rather appropriate title of An Island to Oneself. Not much has changed over the years to this remote island, which is part of the northern Cook island group. http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/cook/suwarrow.htm http://kiaorana.com/suwarrow.html http://www.ck/suwarrow.htm Life is a Cruise, Larry and Carol -- Larry Rick Done Dreamin' Nordhavn 40 #33 Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/ Email: donedream@pacbell.net