Captains log: MORE COWBELL!

Date: July 10, 2022

Time: 16:51

Location:30.41.850N / 130.16.168W

We receive a daily report via email from the race committee. Frustration about the wind is not only been felt by the Solis crew, but but the entire fleet. Many others are talking about the endless windless black holes they've entered then attempted to escape over the last week. Of course as captains and navigators one starts second guessing their skills, but it has been reassuring to me to see that we've not been the only ones dealing with these doldrums. 

It's all somewhat of a blur, but last night when I went down to sleep at 00:00 Joe and Nick were on watch in the cockpit and a gentle wind had picked up. We were ecstatic about at least getting some level of wind that we were making good forward progress without the engine and in the right direction. My next shift began at 03:00 so nearly 3 hours after my nap I was pleasantly greeted by a little more wind. Nick was relieved and went down below. 3hrs flew by as Joe and I shared interesting parallels about out lives about exchange programs in college and working in the tech industry. Joe was relieved by Gene at 06:00 and then major change in our conditions quickly developed. Wind started blowing even more significantly, waves picked up a bit and we started flying! This 32,000 lb beast is plowing through the seas like a locomotive. We're pouncing and bouncing. Although a bit graphic, the head (toilet) is up in the very bow (front) of the boat. The best way to describe using the facilities would be to imaging mounting at toilet seat on the end of a teeter totter then having someone on the other end rapidly raise and drop you 10feet up and down. 

On that note it's interesting to note some of the subtle differences in the crew. One crew member took yet another bath today experimenting with a new method which included large amounts of dish soap. This also the only crew member that appears to have not only changed his cloths during this trip, but also washed and hung cloths. Other than him, the rest of us are pretty much in an "as-is" state of clothing and bathing relative to the morning we left. I'm sure to us "as-is" is how we feel but to anyone that might step aboard they may have a differing opinion regarding this point. 

Water rationing is going incredibly well. Consumption is as follows: Day 1 = 2 gallons, Day 2 = 2.5 gallons, Day 3 = 1.75 gallons

We anticipated this trip to take us about 17 days. Three of us are heavy coffee drinkers so we apparently brought 14lbs of coffee. Most of that water is probably going to coffee, as we're making pots round the clock. The food is next level. Other boats are eating their camping food, dehydrated pouches of beef stew where you simply add hot water, while we're eating chili, chipotle-cabbage breakfast burritos, and a multitude of other culinary delights. 

While Gene is in the kitchen, there's often the sound of beeping coming from the electronics as Joe custom programs a screen on the navigation plotter to give us all of the key metrics we want to see. Now there's no longer the voice of "how much longer until we get there?". With Joe's short-cut screen anyone can see the estimated time remaining, distance to destination and current speed. As of about 06:00 this morning, our calls a hell of a lot more cow-bell in the form of wind would surely have Christopher Walkin and Will Farrow smiling. We are currently being hurled towards Hawaii at a quite satisfactory velocity. This now includes holding on tightly whenever and wherever we go, especially as we walk down below in this thrashing buck N' bronco up and down and across a white capped sea. Spirits are high, smiles are plentiful and there's no end to comments like "this is F$%in awesome". 

Nick and I have been on a very intense multi-day discussion regarding what seems to be many topics but they're closely intertwined. Time-space, the paranormal, reincarnation, god, the universe and how thought affects simultaneous events and the future. 

Other happenings: 

1. Last night at about 4AM while Joe and I were in deep discussing around our college days, a loud beeping emerged from inside the boat. It was my ipad with a warning we had never heard. It warned that a 650 ship was about 5 miles away and that our paths would intersect at nearly just 1 mile unless we altered course. Wild how we can be in this enormous ocean then suddenly paths intersect so closely. 

2. Two nights ago again about 4AM Joe and I head a very faint been from inside the boat. I went to investigate and was faced with a bad odor. I had placed my computer, ipad and iphone chargers all together for charging and it drew too much electricity. The plug has completely melted and nearly caught fire. This could have been a serious disaster, but quick action and keen senses averted any additional trouble. 

3. This is my personal favorite! The VHF radio (VHF radio only works for a range of about 15 miles) suddenly chirped "Solis, solis are you there? This is Mokihana". The woman's voice sounded like she was 20 years old. It was almost shocking to suddenly hear this voice sound through the boat. "Solis here with you Mokihana" I responded. An almost comical conversation then began. She was driving an 800 foot shipping container boat, while I captained my little boat. She said she was coming up just 8 miles behind me and just wanted to see how we were doing. We talked about what a nice day it is, then asked where each of us are going. She said she's a container ship, headed to Honolulu! I said we're headed there too, I then told her I sent my car to Hawaii so many my car was on her ship. She told me she's carrying many boat trailers for a boat race going on, to which I laughed and responded that my car was literally on her ship! So today, my car passed me on the Pacific. She asked what kind of car it was and if she could borrow it for a while in Honolulu, I said no problem and we all good a good laugh out of the situation. She said many more ships were making this trip, so if we ever need anything, just give a holler and they would be there to help! 

I don't get full on sea sick, but trying to write this blog down below is a little like getting thrashed around in a dryer on tumble. 

Many smiles filling this boat along with optimistic attitudes that our new software updating suggesting we arrive in 8 to 11 days from today! 

Keep the good-wind prayers, thoughts, meditations and intentions coming!