FW: Passage Huatelco(Mexcico) to Bahia de Sol (El Salador) Part 2 Crossing the Tehuantepec
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Thu 1 Apr 2010 14:10
Passage length 465 NM
Distance to go:395 nM
Location:(16:09.082N 94:56.527W)
Speed: 7.0 knots
Motor Sailing
Last 6 hours we found ourselves in the famous wind funnel just after sending
the last blog the wind came up to 20+ on the nose, and with it the swell to
steep. We must have cleared some coast highlands.
I adjusted direction for the beach basically north taking us 90 degrees off
our direction, but some 4 to 5 hours latter we in 80 feet of water 2 miles
off the beach and wind has settled in at 15 knots but now we do not have
fetch so the seas and calm or relatively. We covered some ground 30 miles
but not a lot of positive direction to end goal, but now in a better
position. So people slept well until 3 and are now going back to sleep, boys
went all the way through.
All the boats headed in we were the second furthest out, Telecom is getting
thrown about out in the middle as they were the furthest out and could not
get in, so they have an uncomfortable ride.
But this water lives up to it's reputation, we still have 60 miles of unsafe
water to go but things are looking better, and sun is up, so smiles again.
Need to get speed up, with Gary on board we should be able to fly spinnaker
and we will try to keep the boat at greater than 7.5 knots.
Just had breakfast family up, fishing lines out, headsail full doing 7.9
knots we have adjusted to cut some of the corner off based on latest
forecast which has the wind switching and fading so I am pushing while we
have a tail wind. Currently we will be getting in Sunday morning.