Current Position: 17 34.189’N 114 58.964’W; Course: 260; SOG: 6.6 kt; TWS: 18.9 kt; TWD: 017; TWA: 129; Distance to waypoint (Hiva Oa): 2175 nm;
Comments: At dusk last night I changed my course to due W in anticipation of a change in the wind direction. Shortly thereafter, the wind veered to the NE and the wind speed dropped to single digits. The SOG fell to 3.3 kt with a reefed main and most of the Yankee. I was reluctant to shake out the main at night. A pocket of dead air is supposed to develop just south of me, which I am trying to stay north of. That would be easier in the morning when I pass Isla Clarion. I was hailed by the 36’ sailboat Davis on the VHF just after dusk. The boat had been slowly gaining on me all day and was 16 nm off my starboard essentially on the same course. They were aware of my blog and were also on their way to the Marquesas. They were also aware of the developing weather and we both agreed that heading due W would be advisable. I was woken up at 3 by the flagging of the jib. The wind had finally picked up to the double digits (15 kt with 20 kt gusts) and had shifted to the NNW. I trimmed the jib and the boat picked up speed to 7 kt in a close haul. The early morning wind had arrived again. It was a good call to leave the reef in. The preceding calm had quieted the seas, making the ride more enjoyable. The current weather models have my course due W for the next 7-8 days. At 8:30, I struggled for 30m trying to set up the wind vane, but the wind kept shifting from the NNW to the NNE and fluctuation between 11-22 kt, so ai left the TillerPilot engaged and hoped the wind would settle down later. My “9:00 progress check” says I made 98 miles towards the waypoint, about 10 nm less than yesterday. This can be account for by the fact I was sailing W (not SW) and the fact I was becalmed a significant period of time. Much of that time was made up though by the brisk wind since 3:00. I cleared south of Isla Clarion about 30 nm at 13:00. The wind was still blowing so I changed the heading to 255 to reduce the heeling a bit and take advantage of the high winds to drive me closer to my waypoint. The wind was still driving me at hull speed. By 16:00 the wind had died down a bit, 14-18 kt. I went into the cockpit to adjust the wind vane and was surprised by a huge pod of dolphins. There were perhaps 25 around the boat, but I could see many more leaping in the distant on both sides of the boat. There had to be at least 100. I got my leftover dinner and sat in the cockpit. The main pod eventually disappeared, but a dozen of them were polite enough to wait until I had finished my meal.
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Comments: At dusk last night I changed my course to due W in anticipation of a change in the wind direction. Shortly thereafter, the wind veered to the NE and the wind speed dropped to single digits. The SOG fell to 3.3 kt with a reefed main and most of the Yankee. I was reluctant to shake out the main at night. A pocket of dead air is supposed to develop just south of me, which I am trying to stay north of. That would be easier in the morning when I pass Isla Clarion. I was hailed by the 36’ sailboat Davis on the VHF just after dusk. The boat had been slowly gaining on me all day and was 16 nm off my starboard essentially on the same course. They were aware of my blog and were also on their way to the Marquesas. They were also aware of the developing weather and we both agreed that heading due W would be advisable. I was woken up at 3 by the flagging of the jib. The wind had finally picked up to the double digits (15 kt with 20 kt gusts) and had shifted to the NNW. I trimmed the jib and the boat picked up speed to 7 kt in a close haul. The early morning wind had arrived again. It was a good call to leave the reef in. The preceding calm had quieted the seas, making the ride more enjoyable. The current weather models have my course due W for the next 7-8 days. At 8:30, I struggled for 30m trying to set up the wind vane, but the wind kept shifting from the NNW to the NNE and fluctuation between 11-22 kt, so ai left the TillerPilot engaged and hoped the wind would settle down later. My “9:00 progress check” says I made 98 miles towards the waypoint, about 10 nm less than yesterday. This can be account for by the fact I was sailing W (not SW) and the fact I was becalmed a significant period of time. Much of that time was made up though by the brisk wind since 3:00. I cleared south of Isla Clarion about 30 nm at 13:00. The wind was still blowing so I changed the heading to 255 to reduce the heeling a bit and take advantage of the high winds to drive me closer to my waypoint. The wind was still driving me at hull speed. By 16:00 the wind had died down a bit, 14-18 kt. I went into the cockpit to adjust the wind vane and was surprised by a huge pod of dolphins. There were perhaps 25 around the boat, but I could see many more leaping in the distant on both sides of the boat. There had to be at least 100. I got my leftover dinner and sat in the cockpit. The main pod eventually disappeared, but a dozen of them were polite enough to wait until I had finished my meal.
Sent from my iPhone