Position: 27 degrees, 05 minutes south; 160 degrees, 17 minutes west 112 nm today
The east wind has set in and has brought a front with it. Since breakfast, we’ve had a double reefed main and stays’l in 25 knots wind at about 55 degrees to the wind in 3-4 foot waves. Now it’s raining too and the wind has come up to the point I’m considering a third reef before I go off watch (we just finished dinner). These conditions look to be with us for the next two days, then I’m not sure. We’re near a fairly complex system that is throwing off all kinds of weather and it’s not really clear what we’ll get on Monday. The gribs are showing light and variable before a south wind seems to fill in. I’ll be another day or two before I get a good read on what we’ll get. For now, we’re just heading on. All day we’ve been pretty much glued to 058 True. That’s almost direct to Tubuai, although it won’t last. Somewhere in here we’re going to get some northerlies too.
Anyway, that’s our update for today. It’s too bumpy to type and hang on. 😉
Ann, it’s clear you have a lot of poetry in you. Your description of you and the moon was wonderful. I could picture it and feel it.
Captain Bob, you keep giving those gremlins what for. And keep that superb weather eye cocked. I looked at the Windyty website. Wow. The whole Pacific was covered in a snarl of snakes. Reminded me of the ancient mariner maps depicting strange sea creatures on the far side of the world. You might want to keep a lookout for some of them. Probably you want to stay a cannon’s reach away though.
Only problem was there wasn’t a marker showing your boat on the snake map. Maybe there’s a way to put lat/long in and find you.
I’m sure you have a few more rough patches ahead. Hang in. Sail on, sail on sailors.
Bob, Looks like your are bending to the North a bit but on a good course to Tahiti. I’m showing 700 and change to Pepeete’. We left Denarau for Suva today. Stay safe.
John
Sounds like conditions I wouldn’t enjoy. John and michele made it from Florida to New York around cape hatteras for their first long journey – still awaiting the details. Andy and I and en route from Lisbon to Oporto. Portugal is amazing. Reading daily about your journey and sending good wishes for perfect weather ( not working. Yet I guess).