GOLD COAST QIN-SAN 200600ZMAR12 SKED

LAT 39 48.5N
LONG 175 04.8E
DTF 2470
ETA 4 Apr 12

WEATHER WIND 150@20kts, SEA MOD 1M, SWELL SE 2M, CLOUD 5/8 Cl, BARO 1042

Gold Coast Australia has had a long but profitable day today in moderate winds, almost blue sky, and almost manageable temperatures.

It was all hands on deck this morning at first light as we were finally able to drop the trisail and attempt a mainsail hoist for the first time in over five days. With a more complicated system that allows for safety backups, the main was hoisted before it was lowered again to prove the system and give the crew some practice in the ligher airs. The lowering and re-hoist also enabled us to discuss and improve the system and new tools and techniques have already been developed to assist in the process.

It is fantastic to have the mainsail flying again and to be almost at full power again (we are still sailing a little conservatively with something up our sleeve). Once again the boat feels like a real race boat rather than plodding along under trisail.

Not only is the boat feeling better but the blue sky and more moderate wind has everybody singing and happy again and all the troubles seem to have almost dissaperaed. Injured crew members are also feeing up and are able to get around down below and in some cases assist in light duties. The crew still appear quite exhausted from the past week of strong winds and cold conditions and efforts are being made to try to give people more rest when possible, especially after today’s early start and the changing over of watch routines at the half way point.

Over the past few days we have seen an interesting measure of flotsam and jetsam and we wonder if we are sailing near one of the renound north pacific grave yards where so much of the worlds ocean garbage is naturally collected in a big whirl pool. We have seen some strange objects, much of which can only be described as a collection of odds and ends.

The ocean wild life gave us a special treat today with a family of Black footed Albatross who we disturbed in the water and took off as we approached. It is unusual to see Albatross with more than one young, but this mother or father appeared to be training three in the skills and science of ocean flight.