Departed Ecuador into a flat calm and a big counter current.
Southern Princess
John & Irene Hunt
Mon 25 Feb 2008 17:22
February
25th. 01:54S
83:10W
13:00, a delayed start, saw us on a tight reach to
clear Punta Santa Elena so that we could set course for Baquerizo Moreno on San
Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. It was a great sail while it lasted and after
the kafuffle on the start line it was nice to wend our way through the fleet to
be about 3rd or 4th around the point. Of course 'Branec IV' is always everywhere
first. A trimaran 50 feet long which in the hands of the owner, Frenchman Roger
Langevin, just flies.
It was generally a port tack start but as usual,
someone, got caught below the mark, had to tack which put them on starboard and
the right of way. The first time ever I have gone across a start line, with the
genoa flogging and the motor hard astern to avoid a collision!
We had a delightful sail until around 17:00 hours
and then the wind did as forecast and died away and the fleet ran flat bang into
a counter current of between 2.5 and 3.5 knots. We spent all night motor sailing
at 2000 revs which would normally give us 8 knots and we would be lucky to have
averaged 5.5. I will know when I do the distance run at 13:00 today for the full
24 hours.
Our trusty weather forecaster and passage planner,
Bruce Buckley in WA suggested a waypoint further south than the rumb line which
might mitigate some of the current. Bruce says that the counter current, 100
nautical miles north around the equator is running at 4 knots. This is throwing
our calculations for fuel requirements in the Galapagos well out as we had to
sort of pre-order.
We have the trusty line over the stern but nothing
yet today. Need something by dinner at least. Other yachts report plenty
of Mahi Mahi (Dorado) and Storyteller sailed through or around a pod of pilot
whales yesterday. Storyteller also had some problems with their roller furler
which at this time is still not resolved. They can't get the sail to roll in or
out!
We are running a quiz show by SSB radio which is
proving interesting. Southern Princess's question is: What are the northern
most, southern most, western most and eastern most states of the United States.
Blue Flyer had an interesting answer: (N) Alaska, (W) Hawaii, (S) New Mexico and
the eastern most as Iraq! Who knows the answer?
Lorraine Steele, our crew mate from Fiji to Vanuatu
in 2001 has joined us in La Libertas and it is just like old times. Lorraine is
a real great person to have on board and good yachtsman (person?). Any way as I
am now out numbered 2:1 the 'cockpit' has been renamed the 'box
office'.
Love to all and tune in again
tomorrow.
JH