Beyond the Caroline Islands

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 27 Dec 2013 03:52
Noon Position: 09 28.0 N 150 47.9 E
Course: North nor' west Speed: 7 knots
Wind: North nor' east, F5 fresh breeze
Sea: moderate Swell: North east 3 meters
Weather: mostly sunny, warm, and humid
Day’s run: 167 nm

After an excellent day's run, despite most of it being under a triple reefed mainsail, we have left the Caroline Islands astern and are now over the half way mark. With a total passage distance of about 3,400 miles, we have about 1,650 miles to go. By my calculations we have sailed a total of 2,015 miles thus far. Hopefully we will cover the second half of the passage a little more quickly than the first. I expect that we will carry these favourable trade winds up until around 20 degrees north, at which point they may move more towards the north which, if they do, will undoubtedly frustrate our progress somewhat. My other concern is whether we encounter any gales as we get closer to Japan. Again, if we do, they will likely be out of the north west which will see us heaved to and going nowhere until they blow out.
But these things lie ahead of us, and we shall deal with them when and if they arise. For now we will make the most of the winds we have, and with a few more runs like the last 24 hours Sylph's ETA at Noha will be a whole lot sooner. For now I am conservatively guessing an arrival date of 12 January.
All is well.