Current Position: 2 45.853’ S 132 2.760’W; Local Timezone: UTC-9; HDG: 182; COG: 185; SOG: 5.3 kt (motoring); TWS: 8.3 kt; TWD: 034; TWA: 145; Distance to Waypoint (Hiva Oa): 599 nm; Total Miles Sailed: 2786 nm;
Comments: Sunset was at 17:48. The full moon rose at the same time from the east. Although it has been quiet for the past 36h, I could see what appeared to be a squall line ahead of me on the horizon just as it was getting dark. The sky is otherwise cloudless. As expected, the wind, what little there was, disappeared when the sun went down. Without circulation, the cabin became unbearably hot and stuffy. I motorsailed almost S 2 degrees because the forecast suggested a pocket if wind would develop there tomorrow. When I arrived, about 2:00, the water was glassy smooth, but with swells that rocked the boat. I lowered the main but left the jib up for some stability, and lashed the tiller to the port. I “slept” in the cockpit. The forecast was for light 8-10 kt breezes beginning in the early afternoon, about 12h. Once I was back underway, it looks like I will have good wind for the rest of the trip. About 2:00, it had cooled enough to go below. There has been zero wind the past 24 hours. I am floating in the definition of the doldrums. I was awake most of the night because of the heat and rolling of the boat. I fell asleep about 4:00 and woke at 6:00, just after dawn. I could immediately feel something was different. The sea was still glassy smooth from hours without wind, but a 5 kt breeze had returned, along with squalls. A large squall was passing in front of the boat. I resisted the urge to raise the sails, knowing what wind there was coming from the storm and was unstable in speed and direction, and I was right. The forecast is for little wind the rest of the morning. Then, fingers-crossed, enough of an easterly breeze to sail south to where the real wind is. I am going to do some work on the boat this morning. I need to stow stuff in the cabin and get it ready for heavy seas again. Also, I think there is some water in the day tank. I am going to swing the boom over to the port to tilt the boat in the direction of the drain valve and remove some of the fuel/water. I was correct. In addition to water in the Racor filter, there was water in the secondary fuel pump filter and a small amount in the day tank. The engine seems to be running smoothly now. The tiller lashed to the port side, the boat is slowly rotating clockwise, like a merry-go-round with an infinite horizon. I have drifted 4 nm in the wrong direction in the last 5 hours. There is obviously wind towards the waypoint as there are a steady stream of squalls passing by. I need to bleed the rest of the air out of the fuel line anyway, so I’m going to motor towards the squalls (can’t believe I’m write that). Yesterday, I restarted the measurement at 9:00 local for the UTC-9 time zone (713 nm to waypoint). The progress in the last 24h was (713-636) 77 nm, most under power. The wind gauges are of no use while motoring. I am making my own wind. But I notice as I make my way SW (214) towards the waypoint, the mirror-like finish of the water starts to take on ripples. The breeze was sporadic and not enough to sail. At 10:00 it started to sprinkle. There was a rainstorm to the east. I still had the jib up, but the main was stowed in the sailpack, but the zipper needs to be fixed, so I lashed the sailpack closed just in case. I was hoping the rainstorm hits me so I can wash some clothes … and myself., but it passed to the stern. Since I was running the engine, I did something I don’t get to do very often … make ice! I was on a course to the waypoint, but after studying the weather forecast, it makes more sense to head due south because if I motor this afternoon I should hit 3 degrees S around dusk and pick up some wind that will allow me to head S overnight before turning SW tomorrow morning. I finally got some wind, but when raising the mainsail, the halyard got stuck on a folding step at the top of the mast that I use when I am working on the mast. I tried for an hour but could not free it. I have spare halyards forward, but none aft. Thinking I had no choice, I prepared to climb the mast. I carry specialized equipment onboard for climbing the mast, and I have done it dozen of times, even on the water, but never on a pitching boat in the middle of the ocean. I got halfway between the spreader and the top (maybe 4/5 of the way up, and had to turn around as I was being thrashed to pieces. Normally going down is easy and quick, but because of the pitching of the boat, I had to basically retrace my steps. When I got to the bottom I was exhausted and apparently passed out on the foredeck, still in my climbing gear. Next thing I remembered was being woken by a rain storm. As I made my way back to the cockpit, I noticed half the sail had spilled out of the sailpack, apparently because I had knocked the cables free. I fixed the cables, but was too tired to flake the mainsail. I just threw a rope around the boom and quickly lashed the sail. I’m the meantime, I think I have figured out how to free the halyard without climbing the mast afaik. I will try in the morning and will motor tonight. I need to sleep.
Comments: Sunset was at 17:48. The full moon rose at the same time from the east. Although it has been quiet for the past 36h, I could see what appeared to be a squall line ahead of me on the horizon just as it was getting dark. The sky is otherwise cloudless. As expected, the wind, what little there was, disappeared when the sun went down. Without circulation, the cabin became unbearably hot and stuffy. I motorsailed almost S 2 degrees because the forecast suggested a pocket if wind would develop there tomorrow. When I arrived, about 2:00, the water was glassy smooth, but with swells that rocked the boat. I lowered the main but left the jib up for some stability, and lashed the tiller to the port. I “slept” in the cockpit. The forecast was for light 8-10 kt breezes beginning in the early afternoon, about 12h. Once I was back underway, it looks like I will have good wind for the rest of the trip. About 2:00, it had cooled enough to go below. There has been zero wind the past 24 hours. I am floating in the definition of the doldrums. I was awake most of the night because of the heat and rolling of the boat. I fell asleep about 4:00 and woke at 6:00, just after dawn. I could immediately feel something was different. The sea was still glassy smooth from hours without wind, but a 5 kt breeze had returned, along with squalls. A large squall was passing in front of the boat. I resisted the urge to raise the sails, knowing what wind there was coming from the storm and was unstable in speed and direction, and I was right. The forecast is for little wind the rest of the morning. Then, fingers-crossed, enough of an easterly breeze to sail south to where the real wind is. I am going to do some work on the boat this morning. I need to stow stuff in the cabin and get it ready for heavy seas again. Also, I think there is some water in the day tank. I am going to swing the boom over to the port to tilt the boat in the direction of the drain valve and remove some of the fuel/water. I was correct. In addition to water in the Racor filter, there was water in the secondary fuel pump filter and a small amount in the day tank. The engine seems to be running smoothly now. The tiller lashed to the port side, the boat is slowly rotating clockwise, like a merry-go-round with an infinite horizon. I have drifted 4 nm in the wrong direction in the last 5 hours. There is obviously wind towards the waypoint as there are a steady stream of squalls passing by. I need to bleed the rest of the air out of the fuel line anyway, so I’m going to motor towards the squalls (can’t believe I’m write that). Yesterday, I restarted the measurement at 9:00 local for the UTC-9 time zone (713 nm to waypoint). The progress in the last 24h was (713-636) 77 nm, most under power. The wind gauges are of no use while motoring. I am making my own wind. But I notice as I make my way SW (214) towards the waypoint, the mirror-like finish of the water starts to take on ripples. The breeze was sporadic and not enough to sail. At 10:00 it started to sprinkle. There was a rainstorm to the east. I still had the jib up, but the main was stowed in the sailpack, but the zipper needs to be fixed, so I lashed the sailpack closed just in case. I was hoping the rainstorm hits me so I can wash some clothes … and myself., but it passed to the stern. Since I was running the engine, I did something I don’t get to do very often … make ice! I was on a course to the waypoint, but after studying the weather forecast, it makes more sense to head due south because if I motor this afternoon I should hit 3 degrees S around dusk and pick up some wind that will allow me to head S overnight before turning SW tomorrow morning. I finally got some wind, but when raising the mainsail, the halyard got stuck on a folding step at the top of the mast that I use when I am working on the mast. I tried for an hour but could not free it. I have spare halyards forward, but none aft. Thinking I had no choice, I prepared to climb the mast. I carry specialized equipment onboard for climbing the mast, and I have done it dozen of times, even on the water, but never on a pitching boat in the middle of the ocean. I got halfway between the spreader and the top (maybe 4/5 of the way up, and had to turn around as I was being thrashed to pieces. Normally going down is easy and quick, but because of the pitching of the boat, I had to basically retrace my steps. When I got to the bottom I was exhausted and apparently passed out on the foredeck, still in my climbing gear. Next thing I remembered was being woken by a rain storm. As I made my way back to the cockpit, I noticed half the sail had spilled out of the sailpack, apparently because I had knocked the cables free. I fixed the cables, but was too tired to flake the mainsail. I just threw a rope around the boom and quickly lashed the sail. I’m the meantime, I think I have figured out how to free the halyard without climbing the mast afaik. I will try in the morning and will motor tonight. I need to sleep.