We are now 600 NM (nautical miles, there being 60 nautical miles to every degree of latitude, which makes them slightly longer than the English mile) from Nuku Hiva, traveling under motor sail at a little better than 6 knots (NM/hour). We are firmly in the southern Tradewinds which we expect to remain consistent for the remainder of this leg. That would put us in Nuku Hiva sometime Tuesday morning, French Polynesia time (which is a 4 hour time difference from PDT). Winds, and therefore swell, are on our port beam. Swell is significant enough that we roll side-to-side with each passing swell. Because we are a catamaran with 2 hulls, the first hull rises as the swell passes under it, moving on to the starboard hull which rises when the port hull is falling. This constant roll is the least pleasant condition and most difficult for setting sails. With the mast rocking from side-to-side, the sails alternate with stronger and weaker apparent wind (the wind that the boat is actually “feeling” due to its own motion with respect to the true wind reported as “weather”). When the rolling is stronger than the apparent wind, the sail collapses until the boat begins to right itself, again filling the sail. This is not only quite annoying, but it is not good for the sails themselves. We currently have enough wind to prevent this from happening to the headsail, but the main sail is another matter. When the sail “flops,” it not only involves the sail; it puts back pressure on the heavy boom to which the bottom of the sail is attached. This puts a lot of strain on both the sheet (the line that holds the sail in place), but the gooseneck (which i described in a prior blog) is put under a significant strain, and that is one part of a sailing vessel that you do not want to fail! Hence, we continue to motor sail until the winds become a little stronger, which may or may not occur between now and Nuku Hiva. The call to set the mainsail is left to Captain Rich.

That is your sailing lesson for the day.