Location: Underway to Palau
Bulaaaa!
Friends, family, and followers of S/V Vela’s voyage from Fiji to Palau,
Our current position is northeast of a small island near Papua New Guinea called New Ireland. Our exact GP during the time of authoring is at 3 degrees, 3.670 minutes South, and 153 degrees, 31.283 minutes East.
The passage has been very smooth sailing so far although we have been motor sailing for a day or so now, (boo) due to the wind dying down considerably as we approach the Equator. Today was a great day, not unlike every other day on this trip. It began for me and the rest of watch team 2 at midnight this morning, and after a slightly rainy 4 hours and some sweet, sweet stargazing, the watch changed, and we all hit the sack for some rest. During waking hours, I remember a feverishly hot daydream-like series of events as the sun’s sweltering rays beat down, unobstructed, onto Vela. Including several hours studying for our maritime business and law exam with my fellow future yacht masters, a very favorable trade that left me with not one, but two new shirts. Some time was spent helping people practice knots for our knot exam tomorrow, and I learned the icicle hitch Just took a brief intermission from writing in order to assist Captain Mac with an oil change, so my train of thought has been derailed. There is also a pretty good sunset I don’t want to miss happening right now. All in all, I don’t have much to say besides that I’m grateful to be here and am learning so much each day. Despite small hardships and challenges, the people around me are what is truly making this adventure one not easily forgotten.
Mathhaaa
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Finny, Izzy, Mom and Dad, Brad and Ann, Ben, Lulu, Ruby, and Amanda, Peg and Tom, Wyeth and Chase, Eliza, Michael, Tom and Will, and especially importantly, Grandpa Jon If you are reading this, I miss you all and am looking forward to seeing you again. Thank you for supporting me in this endeavor.