Aloha kakou. This is an update received today, 11/1/13, evening HI time.
happy Saturday morning Bruce - we made it through last night pretty much as you said. Coming out on this side of the trough is very pleasant as you also said. The weather is nice, etc. The wind is virtually nonexistent. Looking at the Grib files that I have, shows a picture pretty much as you described, but doesn't seem to offer any suggestions since it is completely different from what we are experiencing. Any suggestions as to which way would be the best way to go, particularly to find some wind that will help us at least to help us keep our pace (in which way to approach it so that it does not come from our stern - but any wind would be good)?
As of 22:30 UTC our position was 27.13 S. and 178.21 W. Our COG was 214°; SOG 8.5 kn (which I neglected to say in my prior e-mails that I was referring to speed through the water, not SOG. Until now the current has been against us, but that has changed to be favorable).; TWS was 0 - 3kn with TWD 190° - 270°, (from 170 degrees an hour ago).
The good news is that this has given us time to repair our sails.
Update: a relatively steady 5 - 7 kn wind at 240° has just kicked in. (For whatever that's worth). Looking forward to your magic. Jerry