Current Position: 5 27.741’N 129 17.307’W; Course: 180; SOG: 4.2 kt; TWS: 12.2 kt; TWD: 035; TWA: 125; Distance to Waypoint (Hiva Oa): 1086 nm; Total Miles Sailed: 2256 nm;
Comments: Sailing was perfect last night. The wind blew steady about 15 kt and I made 5 kt speed due south. The skies were once again cloudy in the morning. With evidence of showers around me. The 9:00 checked showed (1217-116) 101 nm progress to the waypoint. Given the lighter winds and the loss of an hour or two of sailing yesterday due to the electrical issue, this is about what is expected. The seas were relatively calm, so I made a big breakfast. I had to shut down unnecessary electrical devices because it does not look like I will generate much solar power this morning. Fortunately, I ran the wind vane all night, so that saved 5-8% of my batteries. By 10:00 the wind had veered more easterly, like usual, and decreased to 13-14 kt, giving me 4-4.5 kt speed at a course of 190. It started drizzling. By 11:00, the wind was blowing 14-16 due east, so I adjusted the course to the waypoint at 204 and made 5.5-6 kt on nearly a beam reach. Once the squall passed; winds shift to the north and dropped to 12-14 kt. Winds were relatively light the rest of the day, sometimes as low as 10 kt. I tried to sail wing on wing, but the rocking was severe as the wave direction did not correspond to the wind direction. I could sail almost as fast, 4 kt, with just the jib on a pole, and the boat did not rock as much. By late afternoon, the wind had veered back to the northeast. I could sail just off the wind south at about 4.5 kt with an unreefed main and full Yankee in 13 kt wind. I plan to use the asymm when the winds reach single digits.
Comments: Sailing was perfect last night. The wind blew steady about 15 kt and I made 5 kt speed due south. The skies were once again cloudy in the morning. With evidence of showers around me. The 9:00 checked showed (1217-116) 101 nm progress to the waypoint. Given the lighter winds and the loss of an hour or two of sailing yesterday due to the electrical issue, this is about what is expected. The seas were relatively calm, so I made a big breakfast. I had to shut down unnecessary electrical devices because it does not look like I will generate much solar power this morning. Fortunately, I ran the wind vane all night, so that saved 5-8% of my batteries. By 10:00 the wind had veered more easterly, like usual, and decreased to 13-14 kt, giving me 4-4.5 kt speed at a course of 190. It started drizzling. By 11:00, the wind was blowing 14-16 due east, so I adjusted the course to the waypoint at 204 and made 5.5-6 kt on nearly a beam reach. Once the squall passed; winds shift to the north and dropped to 12-14 kt. Winds were relatively light the rest of the day, sometimes as low as 10 kt. I tried to sail wing on wing, but the rocking was severe as the wave direction did not correspond to the wind direction. I could sail almost as fast, 4 kt, with just the jib on a pole, and the boat did not rock as much. By late afternoon, the wind had veered back to the northeast. I could sail just off the wind south at about 4.5 kt with an unreefed main and full Yankee in 13 kt wind. I plan to use the asymm when the winds reach single digits.