Bananas a Plenty

We ate the rest of the Mahi Mahi today for lunch, lightly steamed on bananas, with roast potatoes, onions and garlic. Greens were cauliflower and peas. Wine was Cloudy Bay Sauvignon blanc. We were twice blessed today with Theresa making bread this morning and Hannah banana cake this afternoon. Did I mention we have lots and lots of fresh bananas?

Location 21° 52S, 148° 38W
Monday 12:00, 08.06.2007

At noon on August 6th, the Schooner Maggie B was at 21° 52S, 148° 38W. We were making six knots with full main and fore and the G2 Gennaker AKA “The Bird.” The wind is 8-10 knots from the SE, or 120 relative. The sky is full of small puffy clouds and we are all barefoot and in shorts and t-shirts.

This is Trade Wind sailing and it is a marvelous change for us. Most world cruisers sail from East to West, stay in the mid-latitudes, do the Canals, and follow the SE or NE trades. The Maggie B has generally followed the routes of the old clippers, rounding the Capes, going south to pick up the Westerlies, and riding the shoulder of the storms as they churn past. We certainly could get used to the Trades.

We have come 2451 NM from Opua and have 264 to go to Papeete.

When we set The Bird this morning I noticed a small rip by the clew and we had it down and Hannah had it patched within 20 minutes. Ben fixed the bow of the tender Reepicheep, somewhat hurt in the blow at Raivavae, and I patched a hole in my favorite shorts. All in all, very productive.

All is well.