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June 1, 1999
Hawaii to Tarawa Voyage, Update #30
Day 29. Tuesday, 1 June 1999 0315 GMT
Wind E 1-2. Heading 240M.
Latitude: 12deg 16.830N
Longitude: 170deg 09.708W
There's been a lull in the wind since yesterday afternoon, indicating the departure of one weather system and its replacement - hopefully soon - with another 6-7day pattern with accompanying wind and current conducive to progress south. This seems to be the way of things; a week of ENE weather with the current dipping slightly southwards, followed by an interlude of calm (as is now) with the current running NW before the next week of ENE comes in.
After achieving a depressing 1.4nms south in 5hrs yesterday, I realized the ocean was on the move, and instead of fighting it, took the opportunity to knock off early for the evening: strum the old six string for a while, drink tea and rest up the legs and other bodily hardware for the next 'assault'. At times like these I think it makes more sense to invest the energy into healing that otherwise would make meager progress on the chart. Its part of the whole deal of being a relatively vulnerable guest of the ocean. When the big blue says its OK to go - its OK to go. Otherwise its best to wait to see what she's up to (being in a sailboat would be different of course). And anyway, sometimes its good to just slob around the house. You need to slob in order to perform. Otherwise you have no basis of comparison from which to gauge performance (do I sound like I have a guilty conscience here or what!).
With the current still against us today, but still wanting to feel like we're going generally in the direction of Australia, I turned our nose almost straight westward (240M). This has been a real treat for the legs, just freewheeling along with the swell, still making 2.5knts. According to the forecast the wind is due to veer to the NE tomorrow, allowing us to make up our lost ground south and put a few miles under our belt.
I talk now in the collective "we", not just to include Moksha who is very much a personality having made it almost half way around the world, but also the flotilla of small fish that I have for company under the boat. As well as the customary pilot fish that has been there from the beginning, there are now 5 or 6 dark, fairly plump looking specimens that fearlessly attack my pots and pans when I'm cleaning them over the side after a meal. We have some dialogue too - and although I have to translate what they say from fish-lingo to English, it makes for good company in what is otherwise a conversational desert.
CLASSROOM EXPEDITION:
ANSWERS to YOUR QUESTIONS:
Q. Do you keep a journal and use recycled paper to make it?
A. On the Atlantic voyage I bound empty food packets to make a book. On this voyage I am saving the M+M wrappers (and any others that are suitable) in case I finish the journal I am currently writing in.
Q. Does writing fulfill a basic need for you?
A. Yes. There are different levels of need that writing achieves for me on a daily basis (see below for details).
Q. Does music fulfill a basis need for you?
A. Yes again. Although music falls into the "creative and emotional" category listed below for writing. I could do with more and a wider variety of music to listen to according to what mood I'm in: in the morning I like more classical to wake up to, in the evening I can handle some 'heavy duty' rock n' roll to pump out the miles in the dark with.
ACTIVITIES: (Also please see yesterday's update for anyone in the US)
WRITING:
On Moksha, I find writing fulfills the following needs:
1.Navigation and route planning; marking in detail of the route so far, the currents+winds etc helps to make more accurate predictions for future headings etc.
2.Creative/emotional; journal writing (private).
3.Logistics; making list of things to do while on the boat, things to do when back on land.
4.Communications; emailing family and friends.
5.Public writing; writing articles to newspapers/magazines. Writing this update. Basically any writing that other people will read.
Think of the different ways you use writing on a daily basis. Identify what NEEDS are fulfilled by these ways and compare and contrast them with the needs I have for writing on Moksha. Think of three disabilities you would have in your daily life if you were not able to write.
Jason Lewis,
The Moksha motor
Posted on June 1, 1999 3:05 AM