#128 NOW October 18, 2006  01:35 (UTC -10 hours Hawaii Standard Time)
N19 07.4 W156 08.0,  Temperature 81,  Pressure 1006 mb,  Course 004
magnetic
180 @ 6 knots,  Seas: light swell from S, Para-vanes down,
Miles Completed 936, Miles to Go 32, SOG 5.1 kts average.  1400 RPM

Good Morning,

Many of you wrote us concerning the earthquake
and possible tsunami.  Well, we immediately took
action to be prepared for the big wave, and soon
it arrived, 100 feet high with a breaking crest.
I gave the engine everything she had as she
climbed this giant wave, just like in The
Perfect Storm.  OK, I am pulling your chain.  As
everyone knows, (except maybe my daughter
Stephanie), tsunamis at sea are a non-event.  In
fact, they are impossible to detect and being far
out at sea is probably the safest place to be
during an earthquake and tsunami.  Our only
indication of the earthquake was the loss of
signal in the middle of a weather FAX.  We have
not been able to receive any faxes since then.

We are completing the final few miles of our
passage from Fanning Island.  It has been a most
enjoyable and unusual passage, with following
winds and seas.  We have been making such good
time that we have reduced our RPM to arrive
during daylight.  Yesterday we contacted the
Coast Guard, giving them our ETA and other
particulars.  At customs request, we are now to
meet them at Kailua, which is just south of
Honokohua a few miles.  This will work out fine
and we are now showing an ETA of 7:54 AM, which
is about the time customs opens.

We spotted Mauna Loa yesterday morning about 100
miles away.  This peak and Mauna Kea are the
highest peaks in the world.  Surpassing even
Everest when measured from the bottom of the sea
where they start to their peak.  Another
interesting thing you note when approaching land
is the change in aroma.  There is an earthy smell
to the air, and instead of flying fish coming
aboard, you start to encounter bugs, and insects.
Of course there are more birds around, one of
which roosted on our para-vane pole last night.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Mike
Pate for all his help on this passage.  I was a
little concerned about his lack of experience.
However, he has caught on very quickly to the
systems and procedures we use on Done Dreamin'.
I have no problem sleeping soundly when he is on
watch.  In fact, I have been sleeping too
soundly, as nothing seems to wake me up.  In
addition, he is a most congenial and easy person
to get along with.  If anyone needs a crewmember,
he has my highest recommendation.

Here are some numbers for you number crunchers
(includes estimate from here to Kailua):

Total miles from Pago Pago to Kailua, Hawaii
with a stop at Fanning Island = 2322

Total Engine hours = 460

Genset hours = 69.7

Fuel used = 815 gallons (includes 25 gallons in containers)

Miles per gallon = 2.85  Genset gallons per
hour = .5 (est.)  Engine gallons per hour = 1.70

We are ending up with 130 gallons of fuel
remaining, which is just about what we planned.
Happiness is ending a passage with some fuel
still in the tanks.

Life is a Cruise,

Larry and Mike

Larry Rick
Done Dreamin'
Nordhavn 40 #33
Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/Dads%20Web/doneDreamnHome.htm

Rather than my speculating, could you tell us why you called the CG ahead of
your arrival. Is this a new requirement?

Thank you,
Ron Rogers