An Excellent Day’s Run

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Mon 22 Apr 2013 05:13
Noon Position: 38 48.9 S 142 12.4 E
Course: East Speed: 6 knots
Wind: West F4 moderate breeze
Sea: moderate Swell: South west, 1.5 meter
Weather: cloudy with sunny patches
Day’s run: 167 nm

We have enjoyed an excellent 24 hours run. We continued to rush along for the remainder of yesterday at a steady eight knots until around ten last night when the wind lightened considerably, but still strong enough to keep the sails full in the residual seas. We set all plain sail and then around midnight the wind shifted into the south west. Knowing that the wind was also going to freshen, and not liking the look of some of the dark low clouds hanging overhead, I decided it would be prudent to reef back down again so that I could relax down below. It was another four hours before the wind picked up again, but I was happy that I had been cautious, for, as the wind freshened, we had more than enough sail, and Sylph once more lifted her skirts and took off at seven odd knots. I lay in my bunk listening to the water gurgling past, the wind whistling and, every now and then, the flutter of the mainsail leech. I smiled, nudged RC to one side, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

Since then the wind has eased considerable and veered into the west, so we are running wing on wing before it, and now, with a bit more sail up, are still making a very comfortable six and a half knots. The sun comes and goes, albatross wheel around aloft, and dolphins gambol alow. With about 140 miles to go, we should be arriving Port Phillip Heads sometime tomorrow afternoon.

All is very well.