Guido and Van Buren make CNN
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thanks to Glenn, Pam, and Josh, a wonderful JUNK clip on CNN. Experimental hair stages and all.....
Craving a departure from the daily routine, Marcus and Joel have fun with the razor. Meet Guido and Van Buren.
JUNK is currently zipping along, making 50 miles a day for the last few day. If there is such a thing as "at this rate", JUNK will make her mid-late August arrival in Honolulu.
Cyclone sailing
Friday, July 18, 2008
July 18
The East trade winds are consistently blowing 15-20 knots, pushing us 40-45 miles per day. We’ve got the JUNK square sail flying for the first time. Hopefully it’s downwind all the way. There are still 30 degrees of longitude left to cross - 1800 miles. If we can maintain 300 miles a week, we’ll get there by the end of August. To put it into perspective, that’s driving from Los Angeles to New Orleans at two miles per hour for the next six weeks. Martigras anyone?
We’re getting some wind from the cyclones down below. A plus for us: were in the cold water, where cyclones die. We’re riding the 23rd parallel, where the water is around 65 degrees. Down south, below 20 degrees latitude, temperatures rise to 80, perfect bath water for a cyclone.
Right now the seas are 6-8 feet, with sporadic white caps that spill over the deck of JUNK. All of our fish jerky is hanging in the cabin to dry above Joel’s head. We’re both only pages away from finishing Don Quixote. When we get bored we pump the watermaker, adjust the sails, grab a few almonds for a snack, and gaze at the coming waves.
Go fish, come wind!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
July 15th
For 5 weeks we’ve clawed our way from the coastal wind and currents of North America, to find ourselves completely becalmed. For three days we made a figure 8 track within a 10 x 10 mile box northwest of 23N lattitude and 123W longitude. Go figure. No.. go fish! Here's a clip of our recent Mahi adventures, esp. for those inquiring about our nutrition situation:
We hadn't seen any fish for two weeks, but sit still for a few days and somethings bound to show up. Each day we saw a Mahi Mahi appear, and each day we caught and ate it. Sashimi, broiled fillet, coconut curry, and with the 3rd and final catch, I made jerky. We’ve got enough fish jerky hanging in the cabin to feed us for two months, and it’s rather aromatic too.
But fortunately those becalmed days are gone. Two days ago Joel was swimming across the mirror-like surface of the water. Suddenly a puff of wind blew across the deck. “Hey Joel,” I yelled. “Looks like we got some wind.” Quickly the mizzen sail spun around and the ocean surface grew ripples. “I guess I ought to come back,” Joel replied. We raised the spinnaker and headed due west. We haven’t stopped. In 48 hours we’ve traveled more than 90 miles. We’re in the East Tradewinds! Only 1850 miles to Hawaii. Stay with us.
Synthetic Sea: a reminder of why were doing this
Monday, July 14, 2008
JUNK is currently gliding west, stocked with fresh Mahi Mahi, deck covered with fish jerky drying in the briny breeze, riding high on a few newly fashioned pontoon-ettes.
While we wait for a detailed update, heres an excellent reminder of why we are doing this. Watch this short version of "Synthetic Sea", Algalita's signature documentary on plastics pollution in our ocean. This is the film that first put Algalita's research on the map.
Seeing this film in 2002 lead to my own lifelong fascination with plastics pollution, and ensuing involvement with Algalita. It would be difficult to watch this and NOT feel that this is an issue that warrants more attention, understanding, and action
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