6.27S 99.27W
JENNY
Alan Franklin/ Lynne Gane
Tue 11 Mar 2008 10:24
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Hi All
Its looks as though we have now reached the start
of the trade winds which hopefully will carry us to the Marquesas.The Trade
Winds of the South Pacific tend to start at about 6 degrees south of the equator
down to about 10 degrees,in this band the wind blows from East to West at 15/20
knts and around the world there are a number of "Trade Wind" passages so called
because in the days of sailing vessels plying trade throughout the world they
used these winds to carry them across the oceans.Outside of the trades the winds
can be very variable in speed and direction.
At present we are doing 8/6.5 knts with one reef in
the main we have in some gusts reached 9.5 knts so the wind is doing its bit to
speed us on our way we are now running on our rhumb line which is the most
direct route to our destination,the last few days we have been heading in a
Southerly direction in order to pick up the trades but now heading
SSW.
There is not a lot to report on these long passages
as we are travelling to fast to catch fish ad although there is an abundance of
marine wild life out here it stays pretty well hidden as for other ships if we
see 2 on the whole voyage that will be about it.
We mainly concentrate on finding the wind and
making the best possible course and speed while at the same time conserving the
boat,the daily chores of cooking ,eating cleaning etc carry on but generally at
an angle of 20 degrees as the boat is healed over and of course the boat is
never still its always side to side and up and down generally at the same
time,making a cup of tea takes longer than at home.
We are all well although Jenny and Ellie still feel
sea sick but are not sick I would have thought the ears would have become
accustomed to the motion by now,perhaps they will shortly.
That's all for now
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