03.28S 109.09W 28th July 2011 Day 9 Pacific Crossing

Mojo 2
Andrew Partington
Thu 28 Jul 2011 22:33
Nothing earth shattering but we are still moving in light winds and the weather is simply stunning.
Late yesterday the wind did indeed drop out again on us. At dusk we had a beautiful sunset and about 4 knots of wind. We tried in vain to keep sailing but eventually gave it up as a lost cause and fired up the port motor. By 9.00pm the wind rose to 7 knots so we cut the motor and set the genoa to continue our slow progress through the night. At times we did see 8 knots of wind but it was more often 6-7 knots.
We woke to another amazing day but still little in the way of wind.
 At around 9.30am we were still motor-sailing as dark clouds started to pass overhead. Just as it did the wind picked up to 8 knots, it started to rain and I had a strike on the lure we had been trailing since early in the morning!! The wind and rain did not amount to much but the Mahi-Mahi we landed made a fantastic meal for lunch [seasoned and cooked to perfection in butter].
Throughout the day the winds have not lifted above 10 knots but we have still been making reasonable progress under the genneker and reefed main. It is now late in the day and the forecast 15 knots south-easterly may just be making an appearance. We have a healthy 10 knot breeze and our boat speed has lifted to close to 7 knots. No records again today but Gerard tells me we can expect a weeks worth of 15 knot south-easters...yeehah!!  Records will tumble, but definitley not today.
We have been regularly firing up the radar to see if there is another boat anywhere near us but despite its 36NM range we have seen nothing yet that resembles a boat.
The boat is performing beautifully. Reaching in 12 knots gives us 7-8 knots boat speed and in the calm seas it feels like you are driving a car down the highway.
Yesterday we made a pathetic 114NM. Tomorrow will be better but our lacklustre progress today has cost us.
Late in the afternoon we are around 1853NM from the Marquesas and closing in on the halfway point to this crossing.
Andrew Partington.