Day 26 (28 May 2022) 07:03am Land Ho! We are overjoyed and amazed to think we have sailed about 4,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean. We haven’t seen land since Day 1. Now below some clouds we see the mountainous Fatu-Hiva, the southern most island of the Marquesas. Last night we shared toasts and …
20 May 2022 (Day 18) 0100 2460 nautical miles sailed1368 nm to goCurrent position: 6°S, 116°WSpeed: 7kt (Our max speed is 12.8 kt)Sail plan: double reefed main and jibWind: 19 kt from the SWTemp: 75°FWaves: 3 ft swell from the SE with a period of about 6 seconds. (Too short for our liking.) Clouds: cumulus …
Day 11 (0100) 13 May 2022 1300 nautical miles sailed2500 nm to goCurrent position: 4°S, 95.5°WSpeed: 6kt (Our max speed is 10.9 kr)Sail plan: double reefed main and jibWind: 12 kt from the SWTemp: 75°FWaves: 3 ft swell from the SE with a period of about 6 seconds. (Too short for our liking.) Clouds: noneStars: …
5.5.22 (1100) Day 3 It’s our third day underway. We are eager to get to the trade winds. We’ve been dealing with a counter current of two knots as we deal with headwinds and lumpy seas. We were met with thunder and lightning on the first night but thankfully we were able to keep our …
We’re about to go. Saying goodbye for a handful of weeks to most of our connectivity. The weather looks good, we’re heading out after a few fun days in Las Perlas Islands 30 miles south of Panama City. If you want to track us, here’s the website. It will also have some short daily updates …
4.27.22 On the plane to Panama. The latest Matrix movie is playing on my screen. Planes usually put me in a pensive mood, perhaps it’s a bit of the overview effect of looking out the window that astronauts speak of when seeing the Earth from space. The overview effect combined with the mind-bending nature of …
In March, I had the pleasure of working a NOLS course with NASA astronauts and flight directors. (NASA has been sending astronauts to NOLS for decades, after finding that the expedition behavior necessary for a successful mission is exactly the same as what’s necessary for a successful wilderness expedition.) The small group of NASA people …
DE-ORBIT My contract is complete. I am now somewhere high above South America, heading north. We said goodbye to the crew remaining behind – most of them having contracts that go until mid March. After 80 days with them, I will miss them dearly. One of the best parts of this cruise was the people. …
DAY 49 on the ship. (DAY 6 underway) Where to begin, I’m not sure, but here goes: On DAY 43, we finally left the dock to head south. So amazing it was to see the ship finally separate for the dock knowing it was because we were heading south. It was a very happy moment. …
It’s been 33 days, 4 hours and 54 minutes since I’ve been onboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer in Punta Arenas, Chile. I built a little mission-elapsed-time because that’s one way space missions kept track of time. And it’s a way to keep track of which expedition day it is for my journal. It’s also helpful …