Almost there
Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Sat 10 Apr 2010 20:49
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The wind continues to frustrate--varies between 4
and 9 knots and in direction by up to 40degrees. Nevertheless we sailed all last
night making around 3.5 to 4 knots average and for those off watch it was a calm
and peaceful sleep--no rocking or noise. But on watch it was gybing the cruising
chute, running out the main on a preventer, back in, gybing again etc. to keep
moving.
All on the basis that we decided to make for first
sight of Marquesas at dawn tomorrow and into the anchorage (the Bay of Virgins,
Fatu Hiva) around 1000 hours--so we had a bit of time to waste, no point in
motoring.
We're now 125 miles from the anchorage, the engine
went on an hour ago and we're motor sailing for a bit. This would still put us
ahead of ETA by a couple of hours, so we'll do some more slow sailing sometime
and give the iron sail a rest.
Otherwise all is good aboard Simanderal, only one
more night at sea and great expectancy for dawn tomorrow--both the island and
the anchorage are reputed to be awesome in their
beauty.
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