Pohnpei to Chuuk

The Christmas holiday came and went quietly for the crew on board the ATW Nordhavn 40. While all hands longed to be home for the holidays, they still were able to fully enjoy a wonderful gift - not from Father Christmas but rather Mother Nature. With "Faxai", since upgraded to a super typhoon and now hundreds of miles to the north of them, a gorgeous sunny day drenched the island of Phonpei. The three crew members took time out to ponder the meaning of Christmas by lounging in warm river pools beneath a waterfall with beers firmly in hands.

The extreme weather has pushed the boat 10 days off its intended schedule but the Raytech weather forecast shows light easterly winds for the next three days along the boat's route to Yap - and more importantly - no further tropical depressions in the western Pacific.

While parts of the northeast dig out from under hefty snows that fell over the holidays, the ATW boat deals with the tropical heat and attempts to figure out the best way to stay cool. It's been a warm trip thus far. So wanting to ensure the comfort of the crew, P.A.E.'s president Dan Streech and vice president Jim Leishman decide that air conditioning on the boat is now a necessity. Although this week's dry, fair winds coming through open windows and hatches currently provide a refreshing, well-ventilated boat, there's no telling if an unforecasted storm is brewing around the corner. At Nordhavn's next stop in Yap, P.A.E.'s commissioning tech Brad Smith will meet the boat to install the a.c.

Going full power ahead, the steady Nordhavn and her capable crew should reach Yap on Jan. 2, 2002.

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