19 October 2016 | Friday Harbour, Washington.
18 June 2016 | 48 17'N:124 03'W, Strait of Juan de Fuca
14 June 2016 | 47 30'N:127 35'W, Bamfield, B.C., Canada
13 June 2016 | 47 30'N:127 35'W, Approaching the Pacific North West
12 June 2016 | 45 31'N:131 13'W, Approaching the Pacific North West
11 June 2016 | 44 36'N:132 31'W, Approaching the Pacific North West
09 June 2016 | 42 25'N:135 40'W, Approaching the Pacific North West
07 June 2016 | 40 05'N:140 20'W, Day 15 : Hawaii to Canada
04 June 2016 | 36 40'N:143 30'W, Day 12 : Hawaii to Canada
03 June 2016 | 34 36.5'N:144 28.9'W, Day 11 : Hawaii to Canada
02 June 2016 | 33 00'N:145 32'W, Day 10 : Hawaii to Canada
31 May 2016 | 30 01'N:146 37'W, Day 8 Hawaii to Canada
30 May 2016 | 29 34'N:149 06'W, Day 7 Hawaii to Canada
29 May 2016 | 28 58'N:150 35'W, 6 day underway
26 May 2016 | 24 43'N:156 56'W, Third day underway
25 May 2016 | 22 56.8'N:158 02'W, Leaving Oahu
24 May 2016 | Honolulu, Hawaii
14 May 2016 | Honolulu, Hawaii
12 May 2016 | 21 11.6'N:157 42'W, Sailing to Honolulu
Good Times Had to End...
01 October 2013 | 24 44'S:52 07'E, Indian Ocean 250 due East of Southern Cape of Madagascar24
Pippers
... and we were having such a lovely time.
About 3:15 pm (Mauritius local time) or 11:15 UTC (for you nautical souls) I noticed some very grey and ominous clouds on the western horizon. Oh oh! I immediately called Bill up from his nap - poor soul had just laid down for a well earned rest after 8 hours in the cockpit. I had him help me take down the drifter and reef in the main and the RFJ (roller furling jib). We could both tell that we were in for some major weather changes. We shouldn't have been surprised as the GRIB files had shown this big nasty cloud with stronger winds and larger waves near the east coast of Madagascar... I guess we thought it wouldn't happen quite so soon or quite as far as we were.
We had everything ready by the time it hit, and did it hit! We checked the barometer and in the last couple of hours it had dropped by 2.5 mbs. The wind began to swiftly swing around and it increased from a lazy 8-10 knots to 20-25 knots with gusts up to 30. It was right on the nose and made for a very uncomfortable ride. This lasted all night and then this morning the wind steadied at 18-20 knots from the SSE shifting to the east of south so now we can run with it. We now have our RFJ reefed to a hanky, the storm staysail and the trisail all flying and keeping us on our feet and yet at a good 5-6 knots of boat speed.
This wind should continue to shift to the east and we will be able to run underneath Madagascar with following easterly breeze. A good position from which to cross the Mozambique Channel.
Fishing season and the galley are both closed!