Thursday, July 11
Dena’s 1700-1800 watch
The wind varies a little, but we’ve been making 3.5 knots on average since noon. The gentle breeze doesn’t feel like enough for that progress, but we are running with it and this is the standard direction of the current. Some combo of factors is keeping the sail full and helping us keep our mileage high.
It’s hard to use a forecast this old with any hope it’ll be correct but they did call it on the wind easing last night. If things go as forecasted, we’ll probably have to motor at least part of tonight. We can cover about 50M very slowly, so we’ll have to bail to an anchorage if we use a bunch of that power and have another gloomy, low-sun day tomorrow. I’ve marked a handful of options for places to stop, but I’d rather sail slowly on through if that’s an option. We’ll see!
Dena’s 2100-2400 watch
Full main! It’s good to see the whole thing up. If the wind dies much more, I’ll have to reef so it doesn’t flop.
We’re close enough that the wind dying out is a bit worrisome. We’ll have to conserve battery power for use when it’s needed, but we could motor to a temporary anchorage from where we are right now, if needs be. It’s all about patience at this point, which is surprisingly accurate to how I thought this trip would go!
Friday, July 12
Dena’s 0300-0600 watch
Motoring. Not much to say about that except to be glad, again, that I’m not sitting over continuous explosions.
I did have to drop the main altogether right after my watch started. Left it a mess out of an excess of hope but it’s almost the end of my watch and it’s still dead.
Dena’s 0900-1000 watch
James motored all through his watch. The flat water revealed the dolphin to him clearly. I was sure I’d heard them on my last watch but couldn’t catch a glimpse in the moonless, cloudy dark.
A slight breeze has come up from the northwest and I pulled the yankee out rather than commit to the main. I have it sheeted too tight to create proper lift because the wind is so weak and we still have a swell rocking us slowly. Regardless, it’s a good indicator and actually does boost our speed a little.
Dena’s 1100-1200 watch
Sailing!
The breeze steadied a little and we have a favorable current, so we’re gently sailing between 2 and 3 knots. Main with one reef and full yankee because the little wind we have is northwesterly.
Feels good.
Also, the sun has come out and is blasting the propulsion battery pack with power. Even if we end up having to motor again, we’ll have recouped some of what we used overnight and this morning.
Noon position: N 16° 25.750’ W 022° 46.004’
Distance noon to noon: 65.1 NM
Average speed: 2.7 kn
Trip distance covered: 903.0 NM
Distance to destination: 103.8 NM
