Race 10 - Day 9
Crew Diary - Race 10 Day 9: Seattle to Panama
09 May

Among the incentives for me to participate in the Clipper Race project was the opportunity to sail and learn from a ocean experienced professional skipper (and mate) on an ocean passage. One nautical skill I have always been interested in, but never had the opportunity to tackle, is celestial navigation. That time has come, and I have started under the guidance of skipper Bob and a booklet on ocean sail to figure out how determine a position with a sun sight. Bob is super patient, and an excellent instructor. The entire process has several steps and I am working on my proficiency and sextant setup and calibration, sorting out my side and index errors from my perpendicularity! I was lucky, my first time shooting the sun angle to find the darn thing through the sextant telescope and measure the angle without much fuss. Now, what to do with the numbers?

Our progress south continues to be good (day 9 under continuously spinnaker) we are currently dipping below a small island named Rocas Alijos, that is just north of a verturial race mark Punta Santo Domingo on the Baja peninsula. Just another day at the s/v Unicef office.

Like the motto painted at the helming station says, one life...live it.

Richard Bigley

s/v unicef