Current Position: 10 30.175’S 105 04.507’E; Local Timezone: UTC+7; SOG: 4.3 kt; COG: 258; TWS: 14 kt; TWD: 120; Distance to Waypoint (Cocos, 258): 491; Total Miles Sailed: 11109 nm; Engine Hours: 245; Estimate Fuel: 60+14+50;
Comments: I was wrong about gaining an hour on the way to the Cocos. In fact, they are notched out of the timezone to be the same time as CI. I have not had to drop anchor for almost a month, so I imaging the chain locker is a mess. I will have to allow myself plenty of time to sort it out before arriving at the Cocos. I woke up at 2:30 and could not get back to sleep. I released the morning at dawn (5:58) and motored 0.5 nm offshore before raising the sails. I had trouble with the main at first because the halyard was wrapped outside the lazy jack lines, so had to lower the sail and untangle it. It is 6:15 and 525 nm to go at 258 degrees (almost due W). S/V Sipi left right after I did. They are a bigger boat and crewed, so expect them to pass me. I have 18 kt of wind on the leeward side of the island, so might see more offshore. I left a double reef in the main and am showing about 25% of the Yankee and making 4.5 kt. I will wait until I clear the island before changing the sail plan. The winds dropped to single digits as I rounded the western end of the island. I let out most of the Yankee, trimmed the sails, and I was able to make 3 kt. At 9:00 I shook out the second reef and unfurled the rest of the jib. I was able to make 4.5 kt on a been reach in 12 kt of wind from 100. Swell and as hitting on the port bow. Once I was completely out of the shadow of the island I started to average a little over 5 kt. At 9:15 I heard over the radio that Paradise Falls and Chinook were leaving CI. They are about 9 nm behind me. The former is 46’ catamaran and the latter a 48’ monohull, so I expect they will catch up before nightfall. I noticed all three boats are headed further S than me. They are all on beam reaches and U am in a broad reach. Besides have a more comfortable heeling angle, the broad reach sets me up in a better position in a day or two when the wind backs and blows due E. It is 10:30 and a large number of seabirds are feeding around the boat. I put out a fishing line (with a pink squid that does not look like their prey) to see if I can get some fresh fish. If I catch something, I am hoping it is small, because I have curry and fried rice in the fridge. It is 11:30 and I am only doing 4.5 kt in 14 kt wind because I have a 0.9 kt current from the W. At 15:00, I downloaded fresh GRIB/AIS data. No surprises. The wind is going to be light between now and Saturday. I will be lucky to average 4.5 kt. I have only averaged 3.9 kt in the last 9h. Beginning Saturday night, the wind will pick up and I should be able to make 5.5-6 kt. I am predicting an arrival Tuesday midday.
Comments: I was wrong about gaining an hour on the way to the Cocos. In fact, they are notched out of the timezone to be the same time as CI. I have not had to drop anchor for almost a month, so I imaging the chain locker is a mess. I will have to allow myself plenty of time to sort it out before arriving at the Cocos. I woke up at 2:30 and could not get back to sleep. I released the morning at dawn (5:58) and motored 0.5 nm offshore before raising the sails. I had trouble with the main at first because the halyard was wrapped outside the lazy jack lines, so had to lower the sail and untangle it. It is 6:15 and 525 nm to go at 258 degrees (almost due W). S/V Sipi left right after I did. They are a bigger boat and crewed, so expect them to pass me. I have 18 kt of wind on the leeward side of the island, so might see more offshore. I left a double reef in the main and am showing about 25% of the Yankee and making 4.5 kt. I will wait until I clear the island before changing the sail plan. The winds dropped to single digits as I rounded the western end of the island. I let out most of the Yankee, trimmed the sails, and I was able to make 3 kt. At 9:00 I shook out the second reef and unfurled the rest of the jib. I was able to make 4.5 kt on a been reach in 12 kt of wind from 100. Swell and as hitting on the port bow. Once I was completely out of the shadow of the island I started to average a little over 5 kt. At 9:15 I heard over the radio that Paradise Falls and Chinook were leaving CI. They are about 9 nm behind me. The former is 46’ catamaran and the latter a 48’ monohull, so I expect they will catch up before nightfall. I noticed all three boats are headed further S than me. They are all on beam reaches and U am in a broad reach. Besides have a more comfortable heeling angle, the broad reach sets me up in a better position in a day or two when the wind backs and blows due E. It is 10:30 and a large number of seabirds are feeding around the boat. I put out a fishing line (with a pink squid that does not look like their prey) to see if I can get some fresh fish. If I catch something, I am hoping it is small, because I have curry and fried rice in the fridge. It is 11:30 and I am only doing 4.5 kt in 14 kt wind because I have a 0.9 kt current from the W. At 15:00, I downloaded fresh GRIB/AIS data. No surprises. The wind is going to be light between now and Saturday. I will be lucky to average 4.5 kt. I have only averaged 3.9 kt in the last 9h. Beginning Saturday night, the wind will pick up and I should be able to make 5.5-6 kt. I am predicting an arrival Tuesday midday.