UTC/Local: 2200/1500
Latitude: 05 55.605 N
Longitude: 126 06.586 W
Conditions:
0000 We ended Day 17 and began Day 18 at 07 00.9 N and 125 54.0 W, having traveled 141 nautical miles, the exact distance as the day before. The moon is up but starting to descend. The temperature is about 80 degrees and we have an apparent 12 knot wind blowing from the east. As the wind has decreased so has our boat speed. We are no longer flying at 7.5 knots. We are probably averaging less than 5 knots right now, and are on a beam reach heading 188 degrees south. The sea swells are broad and undulating. Since it's dark, I can really see the swell direction, but expect it is similar to yesterday. We have our jib, main, and mizzen at full sail.
0100 - 0200 It never seems to fail, that when I transition into the late-dawn shift, the calm conditions that had previously prevailed begin to deteriorate. This morning, we had a run with two little squalls. Both of them passed just behind us going from east to west and we were on the southern edge, benefiting from the increased winds and the cooling rain without too much havoc. The seas whip up a bit and it gets bouncy for a few minutes. Hydie senses the increased wind and temporarily rounds up. This is when we need to step in and give her some help. Garyn's hatch is open and he wakes up with some rain drops.
0300 It's been quiet now for about an hour. Everyone has gone back to bed except for me. I really enjoy being up at this time. It's magical to be sailing along with full sail, a nice breeze, and the moon shimmering a pathway from the horizon to our beam.
0700 The sun is just coming up. It's been getting light since 6:30, but at 6:00 PSDT it was still starry out. I think it's time to fall back another hour. We are now at longitude 126. I successfully dodged a honking squall coming right across the bow this morning at 5:00 a.m. Russ and Garyn slept right through it. They are still sleeping. It's good for them to catch up.
1030 We've had our breakfast, dodged through a few more squalls, put up the windshield sun screens, and are listening to Treasure Island. The sea swells are 9-12 feet, but not steep nor swift, the predominant swells coming from the east and north east. Still it is disconcerting to see these undulating seas. The wind is still coming from the east at about 12 knots, and there are few wind waves and white caps. We are traveling around 5 knots over ground rhythmically lifting, falling and heeling to starboard.
1400 The wind has dropped to a pitiful 5-7 knots and we are lopping at 2.5 knots. We got out Genny. This is the first time we have had her up since she wrapped on us the other day. It took a little coaxing, but Russ and Garyn finally got her up and completely unwrapped. Now instead of 2 knots we are up to 4 knots. Not terrific but better. If we drop consistently below 4 knots with the Genny (meaning the wind is dying completely), we will start to motor. We are now 5 degrees, less than 300 miles from the equator.
Tonight is my night off. So we will get this update sent off and probably won't get another one off until late tomorrow. Hello to everyone. Please check the Worrall Wind Blogspot when you get a chance to see if everything looks like it is posting ok. Is SPOT still sending tracking reports? How is the Pangolin Tracker reports working? If you Goggle Worrall Wind, you can probably see us on Shiptrak as well. Looking forward to hearing from you.
All is well on Worrall Wind.
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