Resuming Passage

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Mon 6 Jan 2014 03:03
Noon Position: 13 42.5 N 144 40.7 E
Course: North nor' east Speed: 5.5 knots
Wind: East nor' east, F3 gentle breeze
Sea: slight Swell: north 1 meter
Weather: mostly sunny, hot, and humid

We are away again and taking up our passage to Okinawa where we left it off way back in 2013. Conditions for our departure thankfully have been much better than they were on our arrival. The wind is a gentle breeze from the east nor' east and the swell has subsided significantly, making our exit through the very small gap in the reef much less exciting. Now we are settled on a close reach with full mainsail, number three jib, and staysail. Initially I tried setting the drifter, but when I set it I noticed a seam was coming apart near the leach; not surprising considering how much work the sail has been doing of late, and the poor thing must be almost as old as me. The unravelled seam is only about four inches long so it will not take long to repair.
While the winds are from the east we will once again bias our course to the north of the rhumb line to Okinawa, so as when the wind does start to freshen and back into the north east and north, as it inevitably will, we will hopefully be able to keep the sheets free, our speed up, and the ride a little more comfortable.
I read in the news last night that in the short time that I had been at sea Sudan has managed to tear itself apart. How completely depressing. Maybe I will just stay at sea.
All is well (at least on board Sylph it is).