500 NM Offshore

When we last checked in, an ominous cyclone was trying to spin itself into existence right on top of us. Thankfully it never gathered enough energy to become the real thing. What it did produce was a patch of lively, confused ocean that kept us on our toes for a while. But all is well, and Hazel is pressing on.

As I write this, we are 500 nautical miles offshore. That sounds like a long way until you remember Hazel still has another 4,000 nautical miles to go before she reaches Hawaii.

This update leans a bit technical, but I hope it gives you a clearer picture of how Hazel will make this crossing safely and efficiently.

The Route to Hawaii

From our last port of call, Marina Pez Vela in Costa Rica, we had 4,500 nautical miles ahead of us. That entire journey is laid out on Hazel’s chart as a ROUTE, which is essentially the big picture highway across the Pacific.

Inside that Route are 81 TRACKS. Think of Tracks as the individual segments of that highway, each one a directional change based on wind, weather, and Hazel’s performance. We have already completed 20 of them, leaving 61 Tracks still ahead.

Every course change usually means a sail change, a tack or jibe, or at minimum a trim adjustment to match the new heading. And to keep things interesting, I update the entire Route and all 81 Tracks every morning using the latest wind and weather data. It is a daily puzzle of aligning forecasts, ocean conditions, and Hazel’s capabilities to produce the most efficient path across the Pacific.

When you stitch all of that together, you get Hazel’s optimal Route to Hawaii. It is long, remote, and one of the longest continuous ocean passages you can sail anywhere on Earth.

At one point on this Route, Hazel will be 2,500 miles from the nearest land. That might be the purest definition of remote you will ever hear.

Here is a sample of a few Tracks on the Route:

Life Out Here

We have settled into a solid rhythm: a 4 hours on and 4 hours off watch schedule. Sleep is a luxury, but rest is plentiful if you take it when it is offered.

This morning, while Peter stood watch, I dismantled the engine and checked all her vitals to make sure she is ready if we need her. Out here, our limiting factors are simple and unforgiving: fresh water and diesel fuel. I will share more about how we manage those, and what our day to day looks like, in the next update.

For now, Hazel is steady, the horizon is clean, and the miles are ticking down.

The next evening’s sunset arrived with our entire clan aboard, these birds are extraordinary. They spend most, if not all, of their nonbreeding lives far offshore, sometimes thousands of miles from land, only returning to the world’s most remote islands or cliffs to raise their young. Everything about them is engineered for life at sea: tube-like nostrils that help excrete salt, wings built for dynamic soaring, and the ability to dive or skim for food with effortless grace.

The ones keeping us company are Black-footed Albatross, the most common albatross in the eastern North Pacific. They nest mainly in Hawaii and Japan, but the juveniles and nonbreeders roam the open ocean for years. With their enormous wingspans, they glide over the waves as if the wind itself is doing all the work. Some live for decades, wandering the Pacific like seasoned mariners.

They do, however, leave a spectacular mess. So we negotiated terms. They are welcome to perch on the bow sprit and pulpit. Everywhere else is strictly off limits. Their digestive output is impressive, and we have no desire to redecorate Hazel in shades of albatross.

Hazel, after all, carries my mother’s name. If you knew Hazel, you knew she believed in a spotless home. Everything had a place, and everything belonged in that place, clean, orderly, and just so. She must have been a force. My dear sister Holly, who I adore, inherited that same Hazel DNA. She pulls out her refrigerator once a month to dust behind it, under it, and on top of it. That is pure Hazel spirit.

Amazing Sailing!