03.28S 109.09W 28th July 2011 Day 9 Pacific Crossing
Mojo 2
Andrew Partington
Thu 28 Jul 2011 22:33
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Nothing earth shattering but we are still moving in
light winds and the weather is simply stunning.
Late yesterday the wind did indeed drop out again
on us. At dusk we had a beautiful sunset and about 4 knots of wind. We tried in
vain to keep sailing but eventually gave it up as a lost cause and fired up the
port motor. By 9.00pm the wind rose to 7 knots so we cut the motor and set the
genoa to continue our slow progress through the night. At times we did see 8
knots of wind but it was more often 6-7 knots.
We woke to another amazing day but still little in
the way of wind.
At around 9.30am we were still motor-sailing
as dark clouds started to pass overhead. Just as it did the wind picked up
to 8 knots, it started to rain and I had a strike on the lure we had been
trailing since early in the morning!! The wind and rain did not amount to much
but the Mahi-Mahi we landed made a fantastic meal for lunch [seasoned and cooked
to perfection in butter].
Throughout the day the winds have not lifted above
10 knots but we have still been making reasonable progress under the genneker
and reefed main. It is now late in the day and the forecast 15 knots
south-easterly may just be making an appearance. We have a healthy 10 knot
breeze and our boat speed has lifted to close to 7 knots. No records again today
but Gerard tells me we can expect a weeks worth of 15 knot
south-easters...yeehah!! Records will tumble, but definitley not
today.
We have been regularly firing up the radar to see
if there is another boat anywhere near us but despite its 36NM range we have
seen nothing yet that resembles a boat.
The boat is performing beautifully. Reaching in 12
knots gives us 7-8 knots boat speed and in the calm seas it feels like you
are driving a car down the highway.
Yesterday we made a pathetic 114NM. Tomorrow will
be better but our lacklustre progress today has cost us.
Late in the afternoon we are around 1853NM from the
Marquesas and closing in on the halfway point to this crossing.
Andrew Partington.
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