19.07.806 N
113.41.06 W
114 NM travelled - 417 as of 1300UTC
2569 NM to Honolulu
A word about distance: Doug plotted our course to Hawaii using the Great Circle Route. That's where the 2986 NM total comes from. Of course, unless all the conditions align, sailboats rarely follow lines and we are no different. We have to accommodate wind and sea conditions. When the wind comes from our stern quarter, it is easier to follow the course line. When the wind is ahead of the beam it is next to impossible. And so it is for us. We try to keep to the line, but we have to fall off to the south to fill our sails and to keep the voyage somewhat comfortable. This is why I sometimes report distance travelled to our destination, as opposed to distance travelled. Make sense? I know, complicated again!
At the moment, we are close reaching into 25 knots of wind and 3 meter seas and somewhat holding our heading of 270T. No, perhaps we are being tossed! I thought we were bouncing around yesterday! Ah, here is the other thing - wind forecasting. At the moment we are in an area that was predicted to have winds of 15 knots. Well, you can yell at the weather gods, or the weather men, but the fact of the matter is - we are in it and we have to deal with it. Probably no hot supper tonight.
We have done some reconfiguring to try to stabilize the situation - we have hoisted our staysail and the new back stays that Doug made. This way we can reduce the headsail, yet still maintain speed and bring the pressure back closer to the mast. At the moment our mainsail is also double reefed and we are scampering along at 7 knots. Fun! Well, it would be a lot more fun if I knew there was a cold beer, a hot shower and a warm bed waiting for me at the end of the day! Maybe those bay racers know something I don't!
But we are in good spirits. After all, a fast sail will bring us, well, closer to our destination, faster! We are warm, dry and snug below, though it is a bit humid and warm. Hopefully things will settle down.
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