downwind sailing

Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Fri 18 Jun 2010 19:17
Day 4 of our passage to Niue. The wind has been on the tail for the last 24 hours, and we've been sailing with a reefed main on a preventer to starboard and the genoa poled out to port--through most of yesterday and through the night--and still going, though we've just taken a reef in the genoa as well as winds are 20 knots plus at times. Quite a big following sea to add to the interest--and we're moving fast.
We should close Niue in the early hours of the morning tomorrow--with a choice of slowing down to await daybreak or making a night entry--haven't decided yet--but looking forward to some unbroken sleep.
Might see our friends on Aspen today--they set off from Rarotonga a day ahead of us, but I reckon we'll pass them this morning.
All well on Simanderal