Update from Martin. Received via email 9:14am June 20th.
Since the last update, we worked our way around Cape Nootka which proved to be just as challenging as the stories say. Instead of taking it wide, as is the conventional wisdom, we took note that there were 25 knot winds out wide, with a quick pressure gradient to a dead zone close to shore. We emptied our water ballast, shook out the reef, and used the jib to short tack our way between the 9-14 knot pressure lines, which still took all night, but proved effective. As the sun came up, the pressure gradient disappeared and we were left with light winds all around. We made a sail change to the #2, before immediately making another for the #1, which we carried all morning. Luckily, the wind built a little to 12 knots and backed ever so slightly to allow us to make progress straight along the shore on a close reach. That was until the noon watch change, when the wind all but died and the lumpy seas made it impossible to steer, so Odin and I are peddling again (in our unplanned matching underwear) as Josiah makes modified Ruben sandwiches and Rhys drives.The sun is out and the weather is warm, but it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Our modified ballast system, which involves flooding the engine compartment only to use our second bilge pump to evacuate it into the ballast bags (don't tell OSHA), worked a little too well. You see, we drilled a 2 inch hole in our engine compartment for the pedal drive shaft to pass through, and when the water level gets that high, it floods the battery compartment. Bad news! Odin and I discovered the flooding issue at the same time and exchanged a look of despair. He used the same bilge pump to get two bucket fulls of water out, and I sponged up as much of the rest of the water as possible, but having your head I'm a hole like that can make you seasick in no time, so it wasn't a fun task. Also, our rig is making creepy sounds. We're gonna try to investigate while the pressure is down. Wind building now, lunch ready, and music blasting!
Sail fast!