20.00.379 N
125.58.711 W
Travelled: 127 NM - 1879 NM to go!
Wind: At the moment 20 - 25 knots with higher gusts. It's been windy all day and we have been averaging 6.5 to 7 knots. These winds are predicted to continue for the next 24 hours anyway.
Seas: 2 - 3 meters with a large wind chop - some cross waves. We are following an average track of 270 degrees true and the wind is slightly veering on our aft quarter. At the moment, we have a double reefed main and jib. If the wind continues to build we may drop the main and raise the staysail. Personally, I could do with a bit less. The boat is relatively stable, but skitters and jerks on the waves - still holding on. Doug has expressed the notion that being inside a small sailboat in these conditions is like flying a fighter airplane. Well, thank goodness the pilots don't have to stand to do their work and land within a few hours! For me, being inside is like riding a surfboard with a blindfold on. You plant your feet firmly, bend your knees, tighten up your core muscles and ride the beast!
We realized that at some point today we were due south of Comox (which is located at 124.56.86 W). According to our calculations, at this point in time we are closer to Comox (as the crow flies) than we are to Hawaii!!
It has been mostly overcast and cooler the whole day with even a spatter of rain in the morning. The seas are cobalt blue. A peacock blue tanker passed us 2 miles to starboard on his way to Panama. Doug hailed him and asked when Ka'sala showed up on his AIS - he told us 8 miles away. We picked him up 15 miles away. In this case, size matters!
We are pleased with how our electricity is working out. The wind generator and the solar panels are helping to keep the batteries charged, though not putting back in all that we use. The main drains on the batteries are the refrigerator and our electronics, such as the SSB, boat computer, pactor, lsptops and tablet. We haven't run the engine in a week and we think we may not have to for another couple days. Not bad!
We are starting to bet on our arrival date and, if we continue with these windy conditions, we think we may arrive in Honolulu around May 14. Wouldn't that be nice!
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