Noon Position: 34 56.2 S 138 25.1 E
Course: SE Speed 4.9
Wind: S, F4 moderate breeze
Sea: slight Swell: negligible
Weather: overcast, mild
Day’s run: 16 nm

The last few days were busy completing last minute departure preparations, including giving the hull a quick scrub yesterday. Being another warm day at the tail end of a three day heat wave, a swim over the side was quite welcome.

This morning, at 0650, I flashed up the BRM and motored over to the fuel dock. Here I was met by the gracious Helen M, who took my dock lines and assisted me fill up Sylph’s fuel tanks. Thank you, Helen. Once full (or almost so as I didn’t put quite enough credit in the vending machine), I started the engine once more, and motored clear of the yacht basin, out into the Outer Harbor and towards the waters of the Gulf. Once clear of the Outer Harbor breakwaters, we turned into the wind, hoisted the main, set the jib and shut down the BRM.

Initially we were met with a freshening S’ly and 0820 I put a reef in the main expecting it to freshen more, but twenty minutes later the wind had fallen light and we were back under full sail. It is a bump tide today, that is we only get one tide due to the basin effect of the Gulf, with a low water at 1256. While the ebb tide is providing a bit of a push in the right direction, unfortunately much of that assistance is negated by the short sea that the wind over tide kicks up, causing Sylph to bob and toss her spoon bows as she rides over each little crest.

The wind is forecast to increase to up around twenty knots from the SSE this afternoon, so, as mentioned in my last blog entry, the plan remains to stay close to the Eastern shoreline and tack our way down the coast towards Backstairs Passage. I still haven’t made up my mind whether to stop in Eastern Cove to await improved conditions for heading South, or to just keep on going and take whatever we get. I reckon by late this evening, after bucking into the fresh wind for several hours, I will have a better idea of my inclination one way or the other.

All is well.