Current Position: 10 58.458’N 127 01787W; Course: 180; SOG: 5.2 kt; TWS: 17.3 kt; TWD: 030; TWA: 142; Distance to Waypoint (Hiva Oa): 1438 nm; Total Miles Sailed: 1864 nm;
Comments: There was a beautiful sunset last night. The sun itself was blotted out by thick clouds, but the sea was turned red by indirect light. I tried to get some sleep about 20:30, but was waken a half hour later by an increase in wave height that caused the boat to roll. At daylight, I replaced the first reef line and shook out the second reef. About three-quarters of the Yankee was deployed. That gained me about 0.5 kt boat speed (5.5-6 in 18 kt). The seas are relatively calm this morning and the skies are clear. Should be a good day to make water. I relaxed in the cockpit most of the morning. It’s been 3-4 days since that was possible (because of the waves, spray, etc.). My 9:00 check showed I made (1610-1478) 132 nm on in the last 24h, my best day yet because I sailed only 16 degrees off the waypoint. That’s an average of 5.5 kt (half a knot better than average), and with a double-reefed main. The fact I used the TillerPilot the whole time (because the control lines on the wind vane need to be replaced) may have had something to do with it. The seas were relatively calm today. Winds blew steady 15-19 kt all afternoon, propelling the boat 5-6 kt. It was perhaps the best day of sailing since the trip began. It became partly cloudy in the afternoon, but nothing that looked threatening. As I write this, the boat is surrounded by flying fish. There are also many seabirds, feeding on the flying fish. It amazes me to find them a thousand miles from the nearest land. I have started including the total number of miles sailed since leaving on my trip from San Carlos. I just caught a Dorado, the perfect size for a couple of meals.
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Comments: There was a beautiful sunset last night. The sun itself was blotted out by thick clouds, but the sea was turned red by indirect light. I tried to get some sleep about 20:30, but was waken a half hour later by an increase in wave height that caused the boat to roll. At daylight, I replaced the first reef line and shook out the second reef. About three-quarters of the Yankee was deployed. That gained me about 0.5 kt boat speed (5.5-6 in 18 kt). The seas are relatively calm this morning and the skies are clear. Should be a good day to make water. I relaxed in the cockpit most of the morning. It’s been 3-4 days since that was possible (because of the waves, spray, etc.). My 9:00 check showed I made (1610-1478) 132 nm on in the last 24h, my best day yet because I sailed only 16 degrees off the waypoint. That’s an average of 5.5 kt (half a knot better than average), and with a double-reefed main. The fact I used the TillerPilot the whole time (because the control lines on the wind vane need to be replaced) may have had something to do with it. The seas were relatively calm today. Winds blew steady 15-19 kt all afternoon, propelling the boat 5-6 kt. It was perhaps the best day of sailing since the trip began. It became partly cloudy in the afternoon, but nothing that looked threatening. As I write this, the boat is surrounded by flying fish. There are also many seabirds, feeding on the flying fish. It amazes me to find them a thousand miles from the nearest land. I have started including the total number of miles sailed since leaving on my trip from San Carlos. I just caught a Dorado, the perfect size for a couple of meals.
Sent from my iPhone