Hi all. Your blog post today comes from Gavin. We are about 650 miles from our destination (Oahu) at this point and headed NW at about 6 knots. Over the past 24 hours we have seen a rather large increase in wind speeds and swell sizes. The weather reports originally said to expect 18-21 knots of wind and 3 m seas. However as of this morning those seem to be the lulls. We are averaging probably 25 knots of wind gusting upwards to 30 and are seeing 3-4 m seas pretty consistently. It makes for a pretty bumpy ride but at least we are making good time. On the downside, it makes sleep somewhat difficult when you keep getting slammed by big waves. We have had many waves carry up and into the cockpit. None have been too large of an amount of water, but it is one hell of a surprise when the plastic shield bursts inward and you get ~5 gallons coming at you.... always at night of course. Luckily we shouldn't have to put up with it much longer. According to the weather gurus it should be easing by tomorrow and then in another day or two we will pass into the lee of the Hawaiian Islands where it should be calmer. Still, I am pretty impressed that a 25 knot wind blowing for 3 days can kick up this kind of swell. This is definitely some of the gnarlier sustained weather I have experienced. Just glad we are taking it aft of the beam.

That's all for now. -G