Friday midday LT/Tahiti time (Fri 2200 GMT) The clear line of cloud that stretched ahead earlier this morning from the NW horizon to the SE - marking the convergence zone where opposing light winds meet and air rises to form cloud (see yesterday's photo) - has moved well off to starboard. It does seem it has crossed over ahead of us since we're now into light 5kt W wind instead of the NE wind of yesterday and overnight
We're now headed NNW at just over 2kt under just the genoa and I must finish the mainsail repairs quickly so it can be hoisted to add to our speed.
Sky cleared overhead a short while ago and cloud is now mainly around the convergence zone with almost clear sky to port.
Wind is supposed to back slowly to SE in time but will stay light, initially, as it does so.
At least now the outlook is good for getting N...!
1:30pm Wind has really died and we're struggling to make 1 kt! Wind is supposed to be filling in by tomorrow - but not now... Another slow day...
5:15pm Sky very cloudy now with just a few breaks. Wind from W at 3-4kt - so not much of it and drifting very slowly - still only at 1kt on average.. Checked in with Pacific Seafarers Net and now getting back on deck to finish mainsail repair. Not much more stitching needed so will be good to finish what I can, so it can be hoisted.
Needing plenty of water with cabin temperature at 32C. Sunset soon.
9pm Very calm and peaceful with scene lit by moonlight.
Have birds for company - a pair appeared at sunset as I was finishing sewing of mainsail. Think they are possibly a (White-headed?) Black Noddy? - not sure - maybe someone will be kind enough to ID them for me? I'm calling them a Noddy since they look to me rather like the Black Noddy that once previously visited 'Nereida' at sea - but happy to be sent a correct name since there are probably several types of Noddy
Still sailing very slowly - now heading NW at 1.5-2 kt in wind of still only 3-4kt.
Decided to try to get my hair under control before washing it. With little time normally spent on brushing, it had taken on a bit of a Raster look in places Took quite a time to untangle it gently but, surprisingly, managed not to have to cut hardly any away - just a couple of impossibly-tangled knots. Really looking forward to a shower and hair wash soon.
3:45am Moon has just set - a deep orange ball sinking into the calm sea.
Gybed the genoa - on starboard tack now, with 6-7kt wind from SE quadrant, trying to head N, rather than NW, if possible. Still moving very slowly...
Back to my bunk for more sleep...
7am Full sail - added full main to genoa in 7-8kt of wind from ENE - making 4.2kt course 013T. Not exactly the course or speed I'd prefer but not too bad and a lot better than last few days....
Bright sun is getting warm as it gets higher in an increasingly cloudless sky and our bird visitor is not showing any sign of wanting to fly away from the comfortable perch it found on the pulpit seat. Its wings are very long for its body size (remind me of a frigate bird) and its very small black feet are webbed, like a duck. Bill must be good for getting fish - long, slender and slightly curved.
*****************************************************
While sailing around the world, I'm trying to raise funds to help support the superb life-saving work done by the RNLI (Lifeboats) in Britain each and every day of the year, regardless how bad the weather. In fact, the worse it is, the more likely they are out there, helping someone in distress - whether a swimmer, surfer, small boat or big ship, night or day, summer or winter. They are all volunteers with normal day-jobs who respond immediately to a call and it is a charity - no government funding - so they rely on our help to fund their intensive training and maintain their equipment.
It would be great if you would take a moment to click on the Lifeboats link here (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jeanne-Socrates2), if you'd like to show your support for my efforts at sailing solo, nonstop, unassisted around the globe, trying to set a World Record as the oldest person to do so, by donating something towards the great work the RNLI do every day. If a lot of people put in even a small amount, it all adds up... Thanks a lot! If you can help, it will be very much appreciated. Let's see if we can reach my target!
***************************************************
1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti time) - end of Day 283. We made 33 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Wind up from dawn today helped speed for a few hours.
Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 283 (by daily DMGs): 22,927 n.ml.
Distances (at 1700GMT): East Cape, N.Z.: 2140 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 168 n.ml. to S; Honolulu: 2210 n.ml. to NNW
Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/07/13 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 14-52.17S LONGITUDE: 150-26.54W
COURSE: 015T SPEED: 5.2kt
WIND_SPEED: 10kt WIND_DIR: ENE SWELL_DIR: E SWELL_HT: 1.0m CLOUDS: 10%
BARO: 1012.8hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 30.0C SEA_TEMP: 35.0C
COMMENT: Wind up around dawn - full sail now - no longer becalmed!
