Total miles sailed so far: 2,141 nautical miles (in miles is 2,463.8)
Total miles sailed last three-days: 437 nm.
Day# 13.
24 hr.Run: 162 nm. Pos. Lat.32’24’- Long. 177′ 18’E.
Weather: Wind-15-18 kts SSE Seas: 6-8 ft. Course 090*T speed-7 kts.
Cabin Temp at 7 am-67* Bar.-1012 mb down 4 mb.
The Rest of the Story.
The radar reflector is still banging around up on the Mizzen Mast and for now with the wind and seas up I’m not going up there after it!
I have been having trouble hooking up on Sailmail with my current course but by gibing and heading North I can hook up, so that is the plan for the time being.
We are sailing fast for the time being and I’m trying to avoid those areas with little wind and right now there is one forming just North of my position.
Today I believe I’m almost 1/3rd of the way to Mazatlan. Other than that its raining at times & that is about all that is going on.
Trying to stay “dry” El Jefe’.
Day# 14
24 hr.Run: 124 nm. Pos. Lat.32’22’N Long.179’36’E.
Weather:Wind-SW 8-12 kts. Seas: 4-6 ftt from NW.Course:104*T Speed:5 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=67*. Bar=1010 mb down 2 mb.
The Rest of the Story.
Sailing today in light winds yet find ourselves rolling around quite a bit from waves coming in from the NW. We have a “gale approaching from the west. This one I have decided to stay low on my course line to avoid the brunt of it’s 40 kts. of wind and 28 ft. seas. I expect to see 30 kts and 20-ft seas where I am.
I have dug out my storm boards for closing the boat up properly and my mustang suit that affords a lot of protection from the weather and I also pulled out my winter hiking boots that I like to wear in severe conditions, but was disappointed to see that all the brass islets had corroded away. Oh, well wool socks and tennis shoes work.
I plan to get further to the north on the back of this low to attempt sailing over the high. Doing this will quite possibly put me in the cross hairs of the next low coming through unless I get real lucky.
One eye on the compass and the other looking over my shoulder.
Cheer,s El Jefe.
Day# 15
24 hr.Run: 151 nm. Pos. 33*40’N Long.178*01’W.
Weather: Increasing winds all day and through the night currently 30-knts gusting higher from NW. Seas running 15-18 ft.NW.
Course: 060*T. speed-6 kts. -Cabin Temp at 7 am=64*.
Bar: 1010 mb and steady.
The Rest of the Story.
I have put in place the first storm board and start the process of managing Sailors Run in the on coming heavy weather. I visualize in my mind where every thing is should I need to set out a drogue.
My predicted weather is for 30 knots but I have learned that some times these lows are miss judged by the meteorologists, not to mention there can be some intensified conditions lurking in a gale such as I’m faced with.
It was late afternoon on this day with winds already at 25 kts and having recorded a surf down a wave at over 11-knots I dropped the mizzen sail down and lashed it to the boom.
It was just after dinner that I went forward on deck and put a reef in the main. Now, I was running the reefed main with my 110% Genoa all the way out. Several hours later the winds dropped somewhat like they do at night sometimes and I was able to sleep comfortably while broad reaching away from the wind. I did have several ships show up on AIS and one tanker passed within 5-miles of my position.
It was 4:30 am and the winds were starting to build rapidly. Suiting up I climbed out into a dark hostile environment where spray was starting to fly and waves slopping aboard. I first rolled the Genoa in 75% of the way and that slowed us down just a touch but the main was forcing us around into the wind and that caused the waves to be coming in on the beam and slamming us pretty good,it was time to drop the main down and I did. Wow! what a difference and now the boat was manageable and the wind vane could hold us more down wind and we were still going 6-kts, and the conditions below decks were now very comfortable.
It was time for coffee and the start of a new day.
Riding the crests in the Pacific, El Jefe’