Zac Sunderland: In the Groove Again

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Latest Position: 01.17N, 170.47E 0313UTC 2013PDT 14 August 08

(80 miles from the equator)

I'm getting in the groove much quicker on this leg. It helps to have some wind to keep me moving. I've been busy interviewing with different people. I think there will be an article in the LA Times tomorrow in the Sports section that is if they can squeeze me in between the Olympic stories. Pete Thomas has been great to work with.

I had a good night's sleep last night because the wind had died down some. The Clearpoint Weather forecast shows light wind to nothing all around me but I have had a steady 11 knots most of the day and so am moving along pretty well. There haven't been any squalls today but I am ready with my buckets to catch some fresh drinking water. I did see a fishing boat today. I wasn't able to speak to them so I don't know where they were going but it was good to see the AIS radar was still working. Speaking of equipment, my solar panels are putting out more power than the batteries can take. Thanks to Mike Smith and Tom Brown in North Carolina for putting that right. Now as I check my email and talk on the SSB radio, I hope that it stays that way. The sun has been high and hot.

I have been eating well. The day I left, Carla came out to see me off with her grandparents. Her grandmother gave me a basket of drinking coconuts and spongy coconuts and some dried fruit roll that the ancient Marshallese mariners used to take on board their long passages. The drinking coconuts are excellent and have helped my stomach ache. Other than that I have been eating a lot of fruit and some Goober Grape peanut butter and jelly that I scored at the market in Majuro.

Moana is on a different tack from me headed straight for the Solomon Islands. They have no wind and a lot of fuel and so have been motor sailing all day. I am headed straight for the equator and will tack gradually westward once I am 'safely' in the southern hemisphere. There are areas of convection all around me but so far I have only seen one lightning strike and that was pretty far away.

I have been thinking about what I will do when I cross the equator. Chris from Moana is thinking about swimming across. It is so hot here I would really like to jump in but don't worry, I won't. The tradition says that you should offer something to King Neptune who is the Roman version of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. Tune in tomorrow to hear what I decided! I should pass early in my morning.

Cheers,

Zac


Note from Mom:

Two things:

Here is a link to a fantastic photo essay of Zac's week in the Marshalls by photographer Jen Edney:

http://www.vimeo.com/1518420

She also has a great essay on the prearation stage of Zac's trip at:

http://www.vimeo.com/1232030?pg=embed&sec=1232030

Also, the Photo Gallery is up and working on the web site. We will be adding more photos now that a format has been chosen and uploaded to the site. Any comments you have on how they are working would be appreciated.

Good Night!