return #7 Sunday day 8

1430 hrs Monday Aug 10

Aloha Westward Fans.
What a difference a day makes! The BS fishing platform really paid off. We saw a fish dart out from a floating bunch of junk and lightning struck, a reel real keeper. The size of fish that the normal Hawaiian would nail the tail tale to their front door. It was a hugh Mahi, so big that we didn't dare put the line back in the water for fear of overfilling the ice box. Scott held the tail up and tossed it back into the blue. Needless to say we had fish tacos and cuba liberays(sp) with fresh ice last evening.

Yesterday was one of those days you spend your time dreaming about. The seas were 1 ft., the wind was 10 knots on a close reach and Westward almost sailed herself at 7 knots. The sun was out with few clouds so we looked like a chinese laundry streaming across the Pacific.

Like a dedicated work horse the crew continued to collect plastic samples in out micro filters. Yesterday was a piece of cake however this morning was different. What a difference a day makes! This morning at 6:00 Hawaiian time we began our trawl, wind was 25 knots in the numerous squalls dropping back to 15 outside of the squalls path. We completed our three for this morning and will perform 3 more starting at 3:00 this afternoon. We are planning to continue on a east south east direction to place ourselves in the most congested area of the study zone with a few extra miles. Roger agreed to this since we still have over 200 gallons of fuel and as long as the engine continues to operate in the positive manner in which it has performed, we will be "in like flint". If we do run out of wind, the entire crew will wash up in the flat water.

water: unseen floaties
wind: 15 knots
Waves: 3 ft.
sky: puffy clouds but clearing

We will keep you informed as things progress

lat 33 24n
lon 155 19w
wind 12 k
sea 2 ft waves
spirits: high

COME ON HIGH and hopefully DRY.
More to follow!

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