Current Position: 19 01.311’N 111 8.882’W; Course: 232; SOG: 4.2 kt; TWS: 13.1 kt; TWD: 359; TWA: 136; Distance to waypoint (Hiva Oa): 2383 nm;
Comments: By dusk yesterday, I had steady 20 kt winds and big seas. I had double-reefed the main and was using only about half the Yankee. I also hauled in the sails to lessen their exposure to the wind. Still, I was doing 6 kt SOG. I tried to slow the boat down so I would reach the anchorage a sunrise. Because the sails were not properly trimmed, the wind vane would not work … the boat wanted to round up), so I used the TillerPilot all night. I spotted San Benedicto just before dawn and reached the anchorage 2h later in 30 kt wind, angry seas, and grey skies, greeted by dolphins and seabirds. The crater bowl where I was supposed to anchor fell off steeply. At 45’ I felt I was too close to shore to anchor safely. Although I was looking forward to a stable platform to make a nice meal or two, I raised the sails and pressed on. I plugged in the coordinate for Hiva Oa. 2413 nm to the waypoint (as the crow flies) … daunting. The nice thing is there are going to be fewer freighters to contend with and the course does not have to be precise, so the windvane is fine. The seas were angry last night and the first half of today. I struggled to cook something hot, a bean burrito. Even though it calmed down in the afternoon with 15 kts of wind, I left two reefs in the main and enjoyed the relative calmness, albeit at a price of moving only 4.5 kt. I took a 3h nap. When I woke about 15:00, I shook out one of the reefs in the main and unfurled most of the Yankee. The SOG did not change much in part because I am running against a 1.5 kt current. I should have dropped the main and just run with the Yankee, but instead I altered my course due west to more of a broad reach than a run. Unfortunately, that put my on the path to Isla Clarion, the only solid object between me and the Marquesas. But, that is nearly 200 miles away … not a problem for tonight.
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Comments: By dusk yesterday, I had steady 20 kt winds and big seas. I had double-reefed the main and was using only about half the Yankee. I also hauled in the sails to lessen their exposure to the wind. Still, I was doing 6 kt SOG. I tried to slow the boat down so I would reach the anchorage a sunrise. Because the sails were not properly trimmed, the wind vane would not work … the boat wanted to round up), so I used the TillerPilot all night. I spotted San Benedicto just before dawn and reached the anchorage 2h later in 30 kt wind, angry seas, and grey skies, greeted by dolphins and seabirds. The crater bowl where I was supposed to anchor fell off steeply. At 45’ I felt I was too close to shore to anchor safely. Although I was looking forward to a stable platform to make a nice meal or two, I raised the sails and pressed on. I plugged in the coordinate for Hiva Oa. 2413 nm to the waypoint (as the crow flies) … daunting. The nice thing is there are going to be fewer freighters to contend with and the course does not have to be precise, so the windvane is fine. The seas were angry last night and the first half of today. I struggled to cook something hot, a bean burrito. Even though it calmed down in the afternoon with 15 kts of wind, I left two reefs in the main and enjoyed the relative calmness, albeit at a price of moving only 4.5 kt. I took a 3h nap. When I woke about 15:00, I shook out one of the reefs in the main and unfurled most of the Yankee. The SOG did not change much in part because I am running against a 1.5 kt current. I should have dropped the main and just run with the Yankee, but instead I altered my course due west to more of a broad reach than a run. Unfortunately, that put my on the path to Isla Clarion, the only solid object between me and the Marquesas. But, that is nearly 200 miles away … not a problem for tonight.
Sent from my iPhone