Current Position: 14 07.691’S 89 28.737’E; Local Timezone: UTC+6.5; SOG: 6.0 kt; COG: 260; TWS: 19 kt; TWD: 121; Distance to Waypoint (Rodrigues, 259): 1530 nm; Total Miles Sailed: 12058 nm; Engine Hours: 256; Estimate Fuel: 56+12+50;
Comments: I downloaded a fresh GRIB at 14:30, but I am not sure why. The light wind that was supposed to show up today never did and the new forecast is more of the same … winds in the high teens and gusts in the mid-20s. I believe what we have seen today is the remnants of the gale that was on the W coast of Australia during the last few days. A large squall with driving rain hit at 16:30. The initial wind gust reached 39, but was manageable with the sail plan (double-reefed main and full Yankee in a broad reach). The wind shifted, driving the course from 240 to 280. I was awaken at 20:00 because of sustained 30 kt winds. I did not appear to be in a squall. 29 kt gusts had been predicted after midnight. I adjusted the windvane to be in a deep broad reach. The boat was still averaging 7 kt. The foil for the windvane came off again at 21:30. I cannot budge the threads for the clamp. In the morning, I am going to drill some holes in the smaller vane and zip-tie it on to the clamp. When I get the chance, I am going to manufacture some spares out of thin plywood that is fiberglassed. The big foil came off again at 22:30. I replaced it with the smaller foil and tied it on the best I could … a rough job in these seas with the wind blowing 30. Will drill holes and zip-tie in the morning. When I get to Rodrigues, I will try to remove the frozen clamp bolts and clean up the threads with a tap and die. If that does not work, I will use the impact wrench to remove them and replace the bolts. The boat rounded up at 22:55. I was reminded why I replaced the smaller foil with the larger one. The smaller one is more temperamental … it is not as responsive. At 1:15 the boat accidentally heaved to. The wind was blowing 32 from 130. My course is about 280 (waypoint 258). A squall came through at 3:00 with light rain that caused the boat to jibe again. I adjusted the course to 260 (waypoint 258) to try to avoid it happening again. As the squall passed through, the wind dropped from 30 to 15 and veered, almost causing the boat to jibe again. At 3:20 I got an unexpected shower as I had to go on deck to fix the line I use to secure the dive platform. The wind had already built back up to the mid-20s. Sunrise should be about 6:13. I have made 97 nm on since the check-in yesterday (6 kt avg. on). I should be one-quarter of the way by about 22:00 tonight, after 3.5 days. This puts me on track for a two week passage. I was hit by the strongest squall of the passage at 9:45. The wind backed to 75 and blew horizontal rain at 35 kt. It is 10:45. The wind dropped to almost zero for about half an hour, then it blew about 10 from 70. Thinking this might be the backing of the wind that was supposed to happen midday, I tacked. But the wind started blowing in the 20s from 130, so I tacked again. However, while doing that the main Barrient 36 winch on the starboard side seized up. Eventually I was able to get the slow, but not the high-speed to work. Something is jamming the high-speed gear, perhaps a pebble or a chunk of wood from the ant colony I am trying to eradicate. I dare not disassemble the winch in these angry waters. I will do it when I get to Rodrigues. In the meantime, if the winch stops working all together, I can probably rig up something with the staysail wench. Fortunately, I have spare parts and grease for the wench onboard. It is noon and it looks like the thick cloud cover may be breaking up. I got hit by another squall at 13:30. It was not as intense as the last one. At 14:30 yet another squall. There is no sign of them letting up. The sky is still socked in. The distance sailed towards Rodrigues in the last 24h was 1677-1530=147 nm. The total distance sailed was 12058-11901=157 nm (157/24=6.54 kt avg.). By 22:00 tonight I will be one-quarter of the way and on pace for the passage to take 15 days.
Comments: I downloaded a fresh GRIB at 14:30, but I am not sure why. The light wind that was supposed to show up today never did and the new forecast is more of the same … winds in the high teens and gusts in the mid-20s. I believe what we have seen today is the remnants of the gale that was on the W coast of Australia during the last few days. A large squall with driving rain hit at 16:30. The initial wind gust reached 39, but was manageable with the sail plan (double-reefed main and full Yankee in a broad reach). The wind shifted, driving the course from 240 to 280. I was awaken at 20:00 because of sustained 30 kt winds. I did not appear to be in a squall. 29 kt gusts had been predicted after midnight. I adjusted the windvane to be in a deep broad reach. The boat was still averaging 7 kt. The foil for the windvane came off again at 21:30. I cannot budge the threads for the clamp. In the morning, I am going to drill some holes in the smaller vane and zip-tie it on to the clamp. When I get the chance, I am going to manufacture some spares out of thin plywood that is fiberglassed. The big foil came off again at 22:30. I replaced it with the smaller foil and tied it on the best I could … a rough job in these seas with the wind blowing 30. Will drill holes and zip-tie in the morning. When I get to Rodrigues, I will try to remove the frozen clamp bolts and clean up the threads with a tap and die. If that does not work, I will use the impact wrench to remove them and replace the bolts. The boat rounded up at 22:55. I was reminded why I replaced the smaller foil with the larger one. The smaller one is more temperamental … it is not as responsive. At 1:15 the boat accidentally heaved to. The wind was blowing 32 from 130. My course is about 280 (waypoint 258). A squall came through at 3:00 with light rain that caused the boat to jibe again. I adjusted the course to 260 (waypoint 258) to try to avoid it happening again. As the squall passed through, the wind dropped from 30 to 15 and veered, almost causing the boat to jibe again. At 3:20 I got an unexpected shower as I had to go on deck to fix the line I use to secure the dive platform. The wind had already built back up to the mid-20s. Sunrise should be about 6:13. I have made 97 nm on since the check-in yesterday (6 kt avg. on). I should be one-quarter of the way by about 22:00 tonight, after 3.5 days. This puts me on track for a two week passage. I was hit by the strongest squall of the passage at 9:45. The wind backed to 75 and blew horizontal rain at 35 kt. It is 10:45. The wind dropped to almost zero for about half an hour, then it blew about 10 from 70. Thinking this might be the backing of the wind that was supposed to happen midday, I tacked. But the wind started blowing in the 20s from 130, so I tacked again. However, while doing that the main Barrient 36 winch on the starboard side seized up. Eventually I was able to get the slow, but not the high-speed to work. Something is jamming the high-speed gear, perhaps a pebble or a chunk of wood from the ant colony I am trying to eradicate. I dare not disassemble the winch in these angry waters. I will do it when I get to Rodrigues. In the meantime, if the winch stops working all together, I can probably rig up something with the staysail wench. Fortunately, I have spare parts and grease for the wench onboard. It is noon and it looks like the thick cloud cover may be breaking up. I got hit by another squall at 13:30. It was not as intense as the last one. At 14:30 yet another squall. There is no sign of them letting up. The sky is still socked in. The distance sailed towards Rodrigues in the last 24h was 1677-1530=147 nm. The total distance sailed was 12058-11901=157 nm (157/24=6.54 kt avg.). By 22:00 tonight I will be one-quarter of the way and on pace for the passage to take 15 days.