Day 6

After downloading a grib file Matt started scheming (I’ve got other things to scheme about!!) how best to get through the lighter winds – This are is where the high pressure which has been giving us SE trade winds, passes south and moves east, and the next one approaches. We are in the vee shaped bit of light winds between the north side of each which takes about 2 days to pass.  We stayed on a 2 sail reach most of the day as the wind gradually reduced and became more easterly and the seas calmed a bit.  Shook the reefs out of the main.  We were anticipating to have to pole out the genoa at around midnight but we did so a couple of hours earlier.  We sailed poled out all night making around 6 knots to the west and are now about 15 miles north of the rhumb line and have just luffed up on to a 2 sail reach heading SW. This gives us the best speed and apparent wind to get through the light bit. So far all going to plan, maintaining 6+ knots. Anticipate this for 24 hrs then back on course with stronger winds from SE for the rest of the week. That’s today’s plan anyway – but you know what cruisers are like for changing plans!

We still have 5 pre-cooked meals left which I’m keeping for the last few days when we’re anticipating biggish seas again.  It’s not great being in the galley for any length of time – hot and stuffy besides the rocking and rolling!  We have been eating rather well though.

Not seen any cetaceans so far on this passage apart from the pod of dolphins which accompanied us out of Cocos but there again we very rarely see much in the open ocean.  We see the odd sea bird (yes that one!) now and again – more often in the bigger seas playing just above the waves. 

Date and time: 20^th September 10.15 local (GMT + 6.5 hrs)

Position:  S16:52:328 E077:26:775

24 hours distance:  178 miles