Sunday 14 February 2016

St Helena Inbound Day 13

Hi everyone,
We are currently in position 17 36S 003 14W and saillng at 6 knots on a course of 300M.  The wind is SE at 12-16 knots with a 1m sea and 1m SW swell.  We are sailing under full main and single-furled yankee.  Mostly cloudy sky.  Our day's run was 143nm and we have 171nm to go.  Less than a Geraldton!

Early-morning sunlit wake

Yesterday afternoon we had enough wind to leave the first reef in the main.  We cruised along at between 5 and 7 knots as the wind fell and rose again.  Much easier to unfurl and furl the headsail than to unreef and reef the main!  We had a few patches of sunshine but mostly the sky was overcast.

Overnight we had some longer periods of clear sky during which we enjoyed very pleasant moonlit sailing.  Only one flying fish overnight, and he caught me in the ribs.  He wasn't a really big one and he survived to fly another day.  Side dodgers are a good "defensive shield" against flying fish.  If a big one hits you at speed, you know about it!

This morning the winds decreased to around 10-12 knots so we shook out the reef.  We've been sailing along nicely all morning albeit mostly under cloud.  Looks like a cloudless patch is heading our way. Champagne's on its way!

Trust all's well where you are.

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