The good news is that we have had two, two-hundred-mile days since departing Monday morning. We are sailing very fast directly toward our destination of Suva in Fiji. The bad news is that the weather conditions producing these speeds has taken its toll on the crew, rendering useless the tried-and-true seasickness remedies. We are down to two able bodied seamen: Alex and Lew. The basic weather pattern is winds 22-26 kts with frequent squalls. The squalls generally produce light rain and gusty winds between 30-35 kts. Our course is favorable: during the squalls we run downwind but get back on course between squalls. If we maintain this speed we will arrive in Suva next Wednesday but with a very unhappy crew.
Corinne made a chocolate birthday cake for Lew's birthday last night, the cake is delicious but no one is able to enjoy it. Lew has been happy anyway,having spent his 60th birthday at sea, sailing from French Polynesia to Fiji. We all agreed to have a second celebration once conditions are more favorable.
Everything onboard has been working smoothly, our recently repaired autopilot is once again the MVP of the voyage. We have a few more projects to complete (of course!) if and when we ever have to motor in light seas as the forecast originally projected.