[password] rachel25
[position]35 49.044s 132 54.865w
[status] On passage to Valdivia, Chile from Auckland NZ.
This is Lucas, breaking the silence:
Started the day with my 0300 shift. Colin and I worked to try and experiment with different configurations of yankee-staysail to increase Ithaka's upwind performance. After Colin went down below I continued playing with the headsail and finally handed the wheel over to Ana, forgetting to undo my "experimental" sail configuration.
Went down below, and inspired by my mother's birthday decided to prepare some traditional Argentine dinner to celebrate on her behalf. So there I was, kneading dough and hand-mincing beef for Argentinian empanadas at 9 in the morning inside Ithaka beating over 25 knot winds and 3 meters waves like a rodeo bull.
Nonetheless, the day progressed quite pleasantly despite the occasional waves that would rush into the companionway every time we left it open, keeping the galley's floor nice and clean (and salty) after my morning cooking.
Later, after our radio session, we had a lovely Argentinian dinner, listening to Uruguayan folklore and drinking Australian wine. Cheered for my mother's birthday and for our sustained and smooth progress so far; soon to be sailing right in the middle of the Pacific.

(La version traducida al Español Rio Platense se hara disponible bajo solicitud individual)

[speed] 5.0 kts
[heading] 090 true
[weather] Wind S 8 knots. 0.5m waves. Sky 90% cloud. Baro 1014
[END]