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Dark Star Racing Blog

Dark Star Halfway to Paradise

July 10, 2017, 0800

A record run for us last 24 hrs. Great day of surfing. Seemed like we spent more time at 13 kts than at 8, with top speed 22 kts falling off a wave last night in an explosion of spray. That's it. We have no dry gear left. Just dropped the chute for some maintenance and a back down to clear the rudder but are back at it after 15 mins under main.

Other cool experiences: At the exact moment our GPS told us we'd sailed halfway yesterday, a pod of porpoises appeared and surfed with us for half an hour. Last night we sailed through a school of flying fish that all started to scatter in random directions as we approached. Looked like they'd been dipped in phosphorescence and fired out of a gun into the night.

Saw our first squall last night so we know that we must be getting closer to Hawaii. Really appreciating the big new elliptical rudder and running backs that we installed over the winter!