Day 20
10pm local, 04:00UTC
pos 10deg06S, 134deg04W
Distance to go 294 to Hiva-Oa
Yesterday was a no wind day which yielded only 117 miles under motor. Today was the same, no wind and motoring until 6pm when a light NE came up, just barely enough to keep the spinnaker full and to keep us cruising at 3-4 knots. But we'll take it. Quite frustrating for us to be so close and now run out of wind, but i am sure that we are not the 1st sailors to be becalmed virtually in sight of land. I am thinking of putting Chonny and Andy each on one of shimmi's swimsteps with the dingy paddles to row us the last 300 miles, isnt that how they got the old square riggers to their anchorages?
My eczema finally floored me yesterday, it was hard just to bend my arms, my whole body was swollen and inflamed. Various doctor mates like Rory, Dave and Tilla from Hermanus as well as eczema expert Melanie advised me to increase my cortisone substantially which i am glad to say has made a difference. If i take any more steroids i will soon wake up wearing the yellow jersey. May even win the Tour de France. Just call me Lance. Lance the Lizzard. Andy did a whole night watch (forgetting to mention that yesterday was his birthday). Instead he gave ME the present of a whole nights sleep and this morning i feel better. Thanks Andy and HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Chonny did a marathon kiddie session today allowing me another pass out this afternoon (with the aid of an oxycodon), once again i feel better, the eczema has deflamed a bit, there is light at the end of the tunnel! I am just lucky to have a wife like Chonny who is constantly helping me beat this thing. Plus having Andy with the watches and evening meals we have an awesome team. All they need now is a newer model skipper.
This evening was Andy's delayed short notice birthday party which was chilli con carne with cous cous followed by instant CHEESECAKE (fridge tart thingy) with crust and all. All made by Andy hahaha. I think the boat rocked too much for the tart to set but we scarfed it down regardless. I had a rum and coke but Andy's stomach said: 'No'. After last night's cock eyed watch hours everyone is going down early. The wind is down to 6 knots apparent, we are doing 3-4 knots, slowly masticating the miles to Hiva-Oa and its small capital of Atuona. Atuona has a museum consecrated to Paul Gauguin who lived there in the early 190o's and also the cemetery where Gauguin and the singer Jacques Brel are buried. Did you know that Gauguin also worked as a common labourer on the construction of the Panama canal, earning a whopping $2,50 per day (and nearly dying)?
And lastly, can you believe we have been TWENTY FUCKEN DAYS AT SEA?????