Katherine Ann Westabout

Just to change the subject this sail log is about sailing. Well it just so happens that 26 weeks at sea and six months at sea coincide as it was a Thursday 10th September 2015 that I set forth from Sydney Heads on my solo sail. Now I have no personal experience of this but I am reliably informed by female acquaintances that on a planned journey of 9 months the first six months is the easy part just you wait and see. And I can see their point. From a flat calm of no movement when a gentle zephyr of 4 knots comes the yacht just trickles along nicely on course at a most welcome 2 knots. Contrast this with a 14 knot breeze which has come down 34 knots and you are lucky to make 2 knots and then never where you actually want to go because of an unpleasant chop that throws the wind out of the sails and kicks the stern around. And of course as expected from weather systems in these parts it doesn't stay at 14 knots but gradually dies to leave you floundering and frustrated with f lapping sails that have to be furled. It certainly plays havoc with your navigation program which has you blithely sailing on course at a blissful 5 knots. That's the gloomy side. Right now everything is bright and brisk. Tossed up whether 2 or 3 reefs this morning in the full main and went with the three that just suits the 20 knot beam reach. Making a solid 6 knots on track and with 34 knots forecast for later might just stow the jib in the sail locker and only fly the Storm Jib if really necessary. And the navigation program? It has me covering the next 700 miles in 7 days and with not too much by way headwinds just might make it!