N 18 22.367 W 156 03.809 hd180 wind 22 wave5
Just caught 2 mahi.
We have 2nd reef in mainsail with reef storm jib
_ Devon
Friday, August 31, 2007
Cast off for Papeete!
At about 0100 UTC (3:00 pm Hawaii time) Thursday 08/30/07 the Rocna anchor http://www.rocna.com/home.php?region=global was hauled aboard. What a great piece of equipment.!The sails were raised and the boat headed south. The boat is working upwind as the trades bend around the island. The boat should settle on to a long port tack beat later on Friday.
They have decided to sail with just the two of them. Watches are 4 hours on, 4 hours off......for now. It's gonna be a LONG sail.
About 2250 nautical miles away is the Island of Tahiti in French Polynesia. Estimated time to arrive is 24 days. Thats a large ocean out there. The biggest danger in the next month is typhoons and storms.
The easiest place to track Pacific typhoons and hurricanes is here http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tafb_latest/danger_pac_latestBW.gif
Remember, "the time a man spends sailing is not deducted from his lifespan." - Unkn.
Kona and "the Man" (Homeland Security)
Part ofthe reason to stop in Kona wasto check out of the country. A fairly important thing these days.
Blaze shoreside support (who?) called the local office of Homeland Security five days before arrival in Kona. To ask where it would be most convient to have them board and check the boat out. We wanted to make sure we didn't go to the "wrong place." We were very specific on the voice mail.
Three days later a gruff official (didn't get his name...) returned my call. As I was explaining the situation breifly he said "I don't mean to cut you off....." and then rudely did so. He sounded to be in a tremendous hurry for a man who's department sees just one international flight day.
We followed his direction to call from the http://www.gentryskonamarina.com/.
So as the boat prepared to depart on Monday...the requisite call was placed. Left message on voicemail. Yep...no return call. No return call Tuesday. On Wednesday, the adventurers contact their other new friend, Brian, and grabbed a ride out to the airport.
Wednesday afternoon, 3:30 pm and the Dept of Homeland Security is gone. "They leave at three" was the answer upon inquiry. Back to the boat. Another day wasted.
Thursday, Brian saved the day again. He drove Devon and Dustin out to the airport again.
Surprise!.....a real person was there. He checked 'em out. Then handed them clearance papers
while asking "what time are you guys leaving?". "Three o'clock sir".
The correct response.
What started as a phone call on Monday......ended with signed papers on Thursday.
Oh well...........that gentleman is still at his job today. The crew of Blaze is off on an adventure.
Who really won that round?
Blaze shoreside support (who?) called the local office of Homeland Security five days before arrival in Kona. To ask where it would be most convient to have them board and check the boat out. We wanted to make sure we didn't go to the "wrong place." We were very specific on the voice mail.
Three days later a gruff official (didn't get his name...) returned my call. As I was explaining the situation breifly he said "I don't mean to cut you off....." and then rudely did so. He sounded to be in a tremendous hurry for a man who's department sees just one international flight day.
We followed his direction to call from the http://www.gentryskonamarina.com/.
So as the boat prepared to depart on Monday...the requisite call was placed. Left message on voicemail. Yep...no return call. No return call Tuesday. On Wednesday, the adventurers contact their other new friend, Brian, and grabbed a ride out to the airport.
Wednesday afternoon, 3:30 pm and the Dept of Homeland Security is gone. "They leave at three" was the answer upon inquiry. Back to the boat. Another day wasted.
Thursday, Brian saved the day again. He drove Devon and Dustin out to the airport again.
Surprise!.....a real person was there. He checked 'em out. Then handed them clearance papers
while asking "what time are you guys leaving?". "Three o'clock sir".
The correct response.
What started as a phone call on Monday......ended with signed papers on Thursday.
Oh well...........that gentleman is still at his job today. The crew of Blaze is off on an adventure.
Who really won that round?
Kona and the fisherman
As we all know, Devon and Dustin are fairly easy to know. So it's not a surprise they managed to find some new friends in Kona.
First there was the printing press journeyman (name unknown for now) they met in the harbor bar. Seems he had fishing boat and offered to take the "adventurers" fishing. So last week, on a calm morning, he motored out to where the boat was anchored. With a loud hail, he rousted Devon and inquired if they would like to go fishing....right now.
They jumped at the chance to learn deep sea technique from a local. Strategy was discussed, lines were rigged and then re-rigged. The boat tolled for a couple of hours. Nuthin.
But the did learn a lot about what to buy, what to make....and what is just useless.
Armed with fresh fishing knowledge, they headed to Ace hardware the next day. Raw materials were purchased to be able to make their own lures. A few store bought ones as well.
We shall see how the newly armed fishermen fair in the next few weeks.
As usual, no photos were taken. Damn.
Why the hell did you buy that expensive camera Devon?
LOL
First there was the printing press journeyman (name unknown for now) they met in the harbor bar. Seems he had fishing boat and offered to take the "adventurers" fishing. So last week, on a calm morning, he motored out to where the boat was anchored. With a loud hail, he rousted Devon and inquired if they would like to go fishing....right now.
They jumped at the chance to learn deep sea technique from a local. Strategy was discussed, lines were rigged and then re-rigged. The boat tolled for a couple of hours. Nuthin.
But the did learn a lot about what to buy, what to make....and what is just useless.
Armed with fresh fishing knowledge, they headed to Ace hardware the next day. Raw materials were purchased to be able to make their own lures. A few store bought ones as well.
We shall see how the newly armed fishermen fair in the next few weeks.
As usual, no photos were taken. Damn.
Why the hell did you buy that expensive camera Devon?
LOL
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