Still sailing
Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Fri 5 Mar 2010 17:00
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Now into our third day--325 miles under the belt at
48 hours sailing, so this is a fast passage so far and much better sailing winds
than I had expected or hoped for--only 3 hours under power so far, all in the
first 6 hours on Wednesday.
We're doing a dog-leg route, heading mainly south
towards the equator to pick up the south-east trades when we head west--all up
about 1000 miles--our longest passage since the Atlantic and our longest yet
with only 2 up.
Winds have been quite strong so far--currently over
20 knots on the port quarter--sailing fast under reefed main and reefed genoa.
Yesterday we sailed in lighter winds--15 knots--under cruising chute--we had to
gybe it several times as the wind direction changed--unfortunately our last gybe
was not well executed, the sail snagged and we have a rip in it--too big for a
home repair, so no more chute till we get it to a "sailmaker" in Galapagos--the
book says the shoemaker also handles sails and canvas!! I'll miss that sail when
the winds go light!
Otherwise all in good spirits--spot of rain last
night while Ger was on watch, and a thunderstorm in the distance--we kept well
clear of it. Eating well--need more sleep--I'll probably go for a zizz after
downloading weather forecasts etc.
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