Coyote's Log

Winds continue to head us, and just as Expedition predicts our route, it also predicts our course based on the Grip files. This is terrific, and cause to not worry that we cannot make 30 degrees magnetic, we are currently tracking 15 degrees, as predicted. We continue to have good daytime winds of 17-20 knots apparent, which keeps us flying to weather. We also continue to have squalls, which seems a bit weird given that we are now at 31n 146w. So far tonight, our first squall was at 10 pm and we a have 5 in two hours. The squalls have sustained winds of 23-24 knots, with gusts to 30. The nice thing is they make driving easier, and they point us more towards home. And hey, rain to wash the sails and boat off too! Food continues to be fantastic, bagels, cream cheese and locks with capers for breakfast, followed by more and more food, which everyone gobbles up. Julia “Childs” is keeping us well fed indeed. Can’t wait to find out what is for breakfast! Julia signed up for “trash” sightings with NOAA, so every day for an hour starting at 1230, we all look for trash. We started out seeing nothing during the trash watch, but each day that goes by, we see more and more. Today was a record with something like 10 items being spotted. Because of the practice looking for “stuff” Rick today spotted an 18” green glass fishing net ball. So we stopped and picked it up! It is now in the Lazarette wrapped in plastic garbage bags for the trip home. When we pulled it out of the water a crab jumped off, and it has mussels and other creatures growing on the bottom of the ball. Very cool find! During he put away, we dropped a Coyote cockpit cushion, so we had to turn around again and pick it up before we could be on our way again. Today we did more research on the charging issues by taking apart and inspecting the ignition panel. We inspected all the connections, and they all seem fine. We did find a cracked wire cover, so we cut it off and put on a new butt connector, just in case it was shorting out on something. Later we ran the engine, and had the same problem as before„the charge starts out great, but peters out to nothing, then charges, then nothing. The batteries might get charged but it would take hours and hours of running the engine. Fred Fritz suggested manually combining the batteries, and this worked great! We got a nearly full charge in an hour, with more amps I have seen in months. So until we can isolate the issue with the automatic relay, we will continue to manually combine the batteries for charging, then separate them so we do not drain the starting battery. We have been on a Starboard tack for 5 days now, and Jacob thinks our left legs are getting shorter and our right legs are getting longer. It will be very interesting to tack onto a Port tack, we will need to use caution when opening cabinets because items may have shifted and come tumbling out! Looks like we may tack for SF in another 3 days or so. Until then, fast Starboard tack, bashing into waves and wind. I can see why folks who have made crossings from further south have green stuff growing on their decks, because our decks are constantly awash and covered in water! Time for bed now, Coyote