Current Position: 17 44.653’S 147 24.620’W; Local Timezone: UTC-10; HDG: 270; COG: 270; SOG: 4.8 kt; Distance to Waypoint (Tahiti, T1b): 111 nm; Total Miles Sailed: 4162 nm;
Comments: In contrast to the cloudy/stormy past two days, the sail overnight was under clear skies with a bright, nearly full moon. While the boat speed started off nearly 5 kt, the wind became variable and the boat sometimes made only 2.5 kt. The average speed in the last 12h was 3.5 kt. The skies were clear overhead in the morning. There were clouds on the horizon windward, but nothing threatening. The winds were light and the seas calm, so I shook out the first reef in the main and completely unfurled the jib. Even after trimming the sails, I was only averaging 4.3 kt. The weather forecast suggests it may be like this the rest of the way to Tahiti. It is 147 nm to the southern end of Tahiti, at which point I will be in its shadow and likely have to motor. Alternatively, I could make my way to the north and sail most of the way. The latter might make sense if there is no way I can make the harbor by tomorrow night. At this point that does not look too likely. Is I go to the south l, might have to motor 40 nm. If I go to the north, perhaps 10-25 nm (depending on the wind direction on the north side of the island). I have decided to take the northern route. The first waypoint (T1b), just off the NE coast, is 155 nm away. It is essentially the course I am on anyway. This route allows me to avoid Mehetia, one of two small islands off the SE of Tahiti. I would likely reach T1b early afternoon tomorrow (Tuesday). This would allow me to navigate the traffic around the island during mostly daylight hours. This would still place me at least 5h from the passage to the marina, and even under motor I would not make it before dark. So, I may slow my roll to reach T1b in the early morning hours of Wednesday, say 1:00. I could rest in the interim, even heave to. I will make a decision after I see how far I make it in the next 24h. At my present pace, I will pass Mehetia (75 nm) about midnight. At 8:00, I put a fishing line out. I have been reluctant to fish because I have had trouble keeping the fridge cool and because I apparently have lost my gaff. But, I am out of fresh food and my stomach overrode other objections. Because it is actually nice in the cockpit today (waves are light, no spray or rain), I broke out the nice seat and am relaxing outside. Batteries are at 90% at 8:30, I am running the TillerPilot and the fridge and still have an excess of 7 Ah charging the battery bank. Today may be a good day to make water. At 9:00, I deployed the whisker pole to give the foresail better shape and to keep it from flagging. The pole didn’t improve the speed, still 4.5-5 kt, but it stopped the slapping and jerking with the motion of the waves. A small squall/rain storm passed the stern. Nothing looks threatening. At 11:30, the batteries were at 98%. I turned on the electronics briefly to confirm what Navionics was telling regarding speed and direction, the AIS to confirm there were no vessels in the area, then I turned them back off again and turned on the watermaker. I still had 15 excess Ah to finish charging the batteries. I made some lunch of Raman noodles and enjoyed the fresh air in the cockpit. It truly is a beautiful day for sailing. I had so much extra photo energy today, that made ice, juiced my last grapefruit, and enjoyed an icy beverage outdoors. It started to get cloudy to the NW early afternoon. At 13:45, I hooked something, but it came off the line as I was reeling it in. At 17:00, just before dusk, I took the whisker pole down (in case I need to furl the foresail rapidly at night) and trimmed the sails. There is no indication of weather on the horizon.
Comments: In contrast to the cloudy/stormy past two days, the sail overnight was under clear skies with a bright, nearly full moon. While the boat speed started off nearly 5 kt, the wind became variable and the boat sometimes made only 2.5 kt. The average speed in the last 12h was 3.5 kt. The skies were clear overhead in the morning. There were clouds on the horizon windward, but nothing threatening. The winds were light and the seas calm, so I shook out the first reef in the main and completely unfurled the jib. Even after trimming the sails, I was only averaging 4.3 kt. The weather forecast suggests it may be like this the rest of the way to Tahiti. It is 147 nm to the southern end of Tahiti, at which point I will be in its shadow and likely have to motor. Alternatively, I could make my way to the north and sail most of the way. The latter might make sense if there is no way I can make the harbor by tomorrow night. At this point that does not look too likely. Is I go to the south l, might have to motor 40 nm. If I go to the north, perhaps 10-25 nm (depending on the wind direction on the north side of the island). I have decided to take the northern route. The first waypoint (T1b), just off the NE coast, is 155 nm away. It is essentially the course I am on anyway. This route allows me to avoid Mehetia, one of two small islands off the SE of Tahiti. I would likely reach T1b early afternoon tomorrow (Tuesday). This would allow me to navigate the traffic around the island during mostly daylight hours. This would still place me at least 5h from the passage to the marina, and even under motor I would not make it before dark. So, I may slow my roll to reach T1b in the early morning hours of Wednesday, say 1:00. I could rest in the interim, even heave to. I will make a decision after I see how far I make it in the next 24h. At my present pace, I will pass Mehetia (75 nm) about midnight. At 8:00, I put a fishing line out. I have been reluctant to fish because I have had trouble keeping the fridge cool and because I apparently have lost my gaff. But, I am out of fresh food and my stomach overrode other objections. Because it is actually nice in the cockpit today (waves are light, no spray or rain), I broke out the nice seat and am relaxing outside. Batteries are at 90% at 8:30, I am running the TillerPilot and the fridge and still have an excess of 7 Ah charging the battery bank. Today may be a good day to make water. At 9:00, I deployed the whisker pole to give the foresail better shape and to keep it from flagging. The pole didn’t improve the speed, still 4.5-5 kt, but it stopped the slapping and jerking with the motion of the waves. A small squall/rain storm passed the stern. Nothing looks threatening. At 11:30, the batteries were at 98%. I turned on the electronics briefly to confirm what Navionics was telling regarding speed and direction, the AIS to confirm there were no vessels in the area, then I turned them back off again and turned on the watermaker. I still had 15 excess Ah to finish charging the batteries. I made some lunch of Raman noodles and enjoyed the fresh air in the cockpit. It truly is a beautiful day for sailing. I had so much extra photo energy today, that made ice, juiced my last grapefruit, and enjoyed an icy beverage outdoors. It started to get cloudy to the NW early afternoon. At 13:45, I hooked something, but it came off the line as I was reeling it in. At 17:00, just before dusk, I took the whisker pole down (in case I need to furl the foresail rapidly at night) and trimmed the sails. There is no indication of weather on the horizon.