On Saturday, the 21^st of February after the provisioning was complete for more than $1300, we left at 11:30am from the Academy Bay in the Galapagos to sail more than 3,000 nautical miles. The first night on our way, I was a little bit disappointed. We only had 6 or 7 knots boat speed with the engine, Mr. Perkins.

On Sunday a little bit of wind came up, and we set our main sail with three MS'ers to add support for Mr. Perkins. From that day until today the wind became stronger, every day more. Now our boat speed record is 12.5 knots. So we come closer and closer to our destination, more than 200 miles in 24 hours!

Now we have approximately 2,300 miles to Nuku Hiva. Especially in our night watches, the clear sky and the shooting stars are very impressive. We will be in Nuku Hiva in about two and a half weeks. I am very excited for French Polynesia!

Report from Bosun Bertram:

235 nautical miles in the last 24 hours! A raging average just under 10 knots directly on target. We could simply not have asked for a better kick off to our Pacific crossing. Flying the main sail and our large genoa we are trying to break speed records with the log sometimes reading as high as 13.8 knots! This is truly the fastest 24 hours so far on the entire circumnavigation.

We are hoping to maintain this speed and course for the next 24 hours or so, before it dies down a bit. We will likely have to turn slightly south, but that will only bring us further in to the trade wind belt.

Local time on board is 10:15 and our current position 4,42.71S , 101,54.55W.