" A LADY TRIP " Sailing around the World.

A Lady
Stephen Hyde
Sun 25 Apr 2010 21:35
FRIDAY  23rd  April  2010               Tikehau   to Tahiti,
 
07.00hrs,  lots of rain and 30 + knots of wind,  shit , what weather to be leaving this place,  Tikehau,
We raised the anchor and set off following the channel markers across the lagoon, these were excellent with radar reflectors
on them all , so we could see them clearly on the radar, even when visability got very poor.
 
09.15 hrs  We cleared the pass to the Island and sailed out into the open sea once more heading south towards " Tahitri"
the wind had moderated to a nice 25knots and with full sail , we were trucking along at 8 knots,
We had worked out before leaving that we should arrive in Tahiti around midday tomorrow, with a moderate wind,
 
Distance to Tahiti........................180 miles
Wind ENE    ................................25knots
Sea state....................................moderate
Speed  ( SOG )  ............................8 knots
 
12.00hrs   The wind had increased to 35 knots on the beam, this was great sailing and we touched 10knots at times.
Cripes , if this continues, we will arrive in the middle of the night to Papeeti. not exactly what we want.
 
The sheer pleasure of sitting on the transome sofa , soaking up sun and the energy of the wind silently pushing the boat through the sea
at 9 knots and listning to the babbling water rushing out from under the stern,  just what the doctor ordered.
This is in direct contrast to the time we were sailing the boat home from Cowes to Cork in June 2007 with a westerly wind
of 32 knots on the nose all the way, it was so bleedin cold and miserable that one of the crew jumped ship in Dartmouth and said he would
walk home rather than put up with this.....  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh , thats sailing
 
17.00hrs,  The skipper set about preparing roast stuffed chicken, raost spuds, and veg.  Just lovely.
20.00hrs we had the dinner and all very satisfactory.
 
 
Night Watches :-             Donal.................... 20.00     /      00.00
                                      Aileen....................00.00     /      04.00
                                      Stephen.................04.00     /      08.00 +
 
 
Thats it for today,
 
Signed  :-     Stephen Hyde    ( Skipper )