Antigua Inbound Day 3

Hi everyone,
At noon today we are at 13 50N 041 36W sailing at 5 knots on a broad reach under single-reefed main and single-furled yankee.  The wind is ESE 11G16.  The seas are 1m with a short 1.5m NE swell. The air temperature is 25C, water 27C and above is a clear blue sky. Our noon to noon daily run was 107nm.  We have 1182nm to go.

HF Propagation Map

Yesterday afternoon we had our Christmas Dinner of corned beef hash with veggies, followed by Christmas Cake.  Twas very nice indeed.  After dinner we watched a movie.  Outside the wind stayed 11G15 from the ESE with no traffic whatsoever.  We continued sailing SW to stay clear of the developing area of no wind to our N.

The evening SSB sked featured Lady of Lorien, Ruffian and Emma.  We and Lady of Lorien are trying to help Emma with their Iridium Go!.  Unfortunately their contract ran out mid-passage so we're relaying information to/from PredictWind.  The screenshot above shows how far our radio may reach from our current position at 2100UTC and 4146kHz.  The inner circle shows a single 'hop' (up to the ionosphere and down to the receiver), the next is two hops etc.  So talking to Ruffian in the Gambier is a two-hop connection.

Overnight we each did a 6 hour watch.  The wind gradually decreased to 8G10 at which point we shook out the second reef in the main.  We had noticed increasing amounts of sea weed in the water during Christmas Day.  Overnight it increased to the point where I was having to free the SailingGen of weed every half hour.  Hydrogenerators don't like weed.

With less than 1200nm to go we only have two Sydney Hobarts to do.  We wish the fleet of 85 yachts which departed Sydney today a great passage south.  Like them we're looking forward to a 'quiet little drink' on arrival!

Trust all's well where you are.