Passage Update - Day 9 - Middle of Nowhere, Almost Literally

Greetings all from SS, BL, and TC, (TC)

Date/GMT: 2016/12/1934 hrs (local)
Status: Enroute
Position: 08 52' W 125 38' (1250 nm SSW of Cabo; NNE of 1347 nm from Nuku Hiva)
Winds (T): 16-22 kts @ 050-044 (NE)
Perf: Boat Spd 8.2 kts SOG 7.2kts COG 209 M

This is the 9th full day at sea since leaving Cabo and we are about 62 nm shy of the halfway mark. Hooray!
We are in really good winds and going almost straight down the rhumbline. Today is is sunny and very warm, puffy cumulus clouds building their ammo for tonight's energy releases. The boat is scooting along under a conservative smaller sail config (double-reef main, 15% reef jib); it's all we need. She seems comfortable swishing along at 7-9 knots, just under surfing speed. We are being cautious to preserve gear and crew, denying our racing roots to push, push, and push! (and possibly break)

It's hard to overstate the vastness of the ocean realm out here; for as far as the eye can see - 50 nm radius at sea level , a couple hundred miles if looking up into the clouds - there is nothing but water, waves, sky, zipping flying fish, and the occasional seabird. We are only ones out here - no AIS tracker targets for days - and we seem like the literal drop of water in the sea, a grain of sand on the beach, a single cell in the whole of the human body, a single sprinkle on a whole cupcake - have I used enough cliches yet to get the point across?

In other words, we are in the middle of our passage, in the middle of nowhere, which if you must know, is also where the Clipperton Fracture Zone lies, in 3987 meters (13,080 ft) depth, according to NGA Chart Int 51. Muy fondo! (deep). I guess there be tectonic plates down there somewhere. If you ever wanted to truly get away from it all, I can personally recommend this place.

And I can finally check 'Middle of Nowhere' off my bucket list!

All remains well aboard. Spirits are good. The 24 hour operations/watches, fatigue, constant pitching, rolling, and yawing of the boat, and the excessive heat are all a bit taxing, so it's no resort club here. But I can't complain. The AP keeps driving, we continue to make water, electricity (w/solar and genset), the HAM radio and GPSs continue to function well, and the boat keeps on trucking. Looking forward to a continued favorable situation and good winds to keep pushing propelling us towards Nuku Hiva (for 'free'!).

Pic attached - A GoPro view of Cinnabar and hydrodynamics in action.