LAT 17 47.1N
LONG 104 56.0W
DTF 1580
ETA 13 May 12
COG 200
SOG 2
WEATHER WIND L&V 000-090 1-4kts, Sea Calm, Swell n/a, Cloud 2/8, Baro 1012
An amazing day in and around Gold Coast Australia today with more wildlife than Australia Zoo. Whilst for the majority of the day we sat becalmed in the pacific ocean off the Mexican coast, in between puffs of wind we were entertained by mother nature who put on a spectacular show.
Three turtle species were identified today, including one rare leather back turtle and another turtle with a brown boobie hitching on its shell.
The most spectacular of all shows was put on by two different pods of what we believe to be Pygmy Killer Whales. The first pod swam to the boat and surrounded us, jumping, breaching and playing. They were quite inquisitive of Gold Coast Australia and swam with us for over an hour. As we cheered for an encore, another pod approached that was even bigger than the first and really put on a show for us. I got some fantastic GoPro video and still footage of these beautiful creatures and felt honoured to have witnessed such a performance.
Later in the day as the wind picked up from the NW, our spinnaker filled and we started to make some good ground. To top it off another breed of whales breached in the distance but we were unable to identify it apart from it being white in colour, and quite small and stout.
The air surrounding Gold Coast Australia was also filled with our friends of the feathered variety, including a couple of different species of boobies and one small land bird who landed on our deck and then made himself quite at home helping with sail hoists and then heading below for a full tour before resting in the ghetto on a bunk.
The wind carried us ESE at reasonable speed until the early evening until the wind died out completely. Gold Coast Australia was left to drift in a mill pond until only just recently when we began to experienced what appears to be a light land breeze from the cooling land in the east, bringing with it some sea mist. With so little wind in the area over the next few days it dosn’t really matter where the wind comes from or how it is generated, all is appreciated as Gold Coast Australia defends its current position leading the fleet.
