44:33N 146:19W

 

After motoring for 3 hours last night, the wind suddenly freshened from the SSW and we were able to start sailing again with a good speed of 7 plus knots over the ground.

This morning we are in VHF contact with our friends on s/v Libby a 53 ft Amel ketch. Our relative courses have been converging for the last couple of days and we are now only 8 miles apart. Unofficially, the race is on and we will be shaking out one of the mainsail reefs very soon to add on speed.

Great fun chatting to Terry and his crew Chuck, on and off as we go.

A low pressure system to our North has produced a day of rain and larger seas, which we are running down all on the Hydrovane, good old Heidi with a new blue skirt on, doing a brilliant job!

Only 912 miles to go to the entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait and 1668 miles behind us. All going well, fabulous!