Where are the trade winds? They are supposed to be with us at this time and distance to Hawaii, combined with some good waves, about what we had a few days earlier. Instead we have almost flat water and very low wind. Not a single white cap visible up to the horizon. In addition the wind is not coming from straight easterly directions as forecasted, but more from south-easterly to south. We are going slow, from 6 knots down to 3!

With that wind direction our wing-on-wing jib rigging does not work anymore. We had both (!) jibs on one side. then we raised the spinnaker in addition, having then a total of 4 sails up. But that turned out to not work well. We took the two jibs down, and are now going with the 3/4 ounce and the staysail. We are going; not exactly fast, but we are going. A situation where we dearly miss a real mainsail.

Our radio worked this morning at least well enough for the roll call. Apparently they heard me well yesterday, but I heard them not at all, which yielded me a few jokes about my several calls "into the blue", which I sent yesterday. Still, I have difficulties with sailmail; something is not right with the radio. And then racing committee in Kaneohe seem to have problems of their own, judging from the many relays that were necessary this morning for the 100 miles check-ins.

California girl has already finished. We are still on 4th, but being challenged by Cassiopeia. They are still some 100 miles behind us, but we owe them 14.5h for time correction! This light wind from beam really comes at the wrong time.

Yet another big ship on the horizon, but no racer visible. It is hot.

Aloha,
Ulli

position at 1530 PDT : 22N50, 155W10, COG: 217M, SOG: 5.3kn, ETA: Mon, July 17, 1438 HST