Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Pacific Crossing Day 19



At longitude 152 we grind our way through the rough, hoping to sight Mauna Loa on the big island tomorrow morning. Hawaii is at longitude 155 so we ain't got far to go.

We began this trip with a few rough days and are ending the trip the same way.

Last night we had a good dinner, thanks to Connie cooking that bird. But through the night the seas remained high as they continue today. Constant rocking back and forth with the swell coming in on the beam. Predicted wave height of 1.5 meters is actually about 3 meters with the rogue one even higher. As she lurches to starboard the mast drags the sails windward. Coming back upright then to port the sails CRACK, the sheets snap tight, and the turning block snaps upright with a loud knock.

In the galley, no matter how tight we pack the pans, plates, and spices, a cavalcade of crashing follows each lurch. Moving about, we stumble from handhold to handhold, feet spaced a yard apart. It's nicer in the cockpit. There, the sounds are muffled somewhat by the wind and the hissing seas. But you still have to hang on or you'll get thrown from your perch.

No sleep for me all night. Connie, neither. We take solace in the fact that we'll be in harbor in about 28 hours.

Our conundrum is:
At 170 miles out and 3:00 PM,
At 6 knots our landfall is at 4:30 PM. Good
At 5.5 knots our landfall is at 7:00 PM Acceptable
At 5 knots our landfall is at 10:00 PM Not good

So we must keep our speed up to make landfall before nightfall. This means that we might have to run the engine if the wind drops.

We are presently traveling at 5.8 knots under sail, full genoa and three reefs in the main with a beam sea and wind off the stern quarter expected to pull further aft as the afternoon progresses.

Connie has a bottle of champagne stashed some place. Now where did she stash it?


Scott, Connie, and Scott

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1 comment:

  1. You guys are just amazing. Do you guys get seasickness or are you beyond that point now? Hawaii will be awesome!

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