NE course continued overnight, with speed up to 5.5 kt, but well before dawn, winds backed and our course was due N for several hours. By 11am, we were heading NW in a NE wind - NOT the direction expected or wanted! For the rest of the day our NW course continued, but soon after sunset the wind veered and we were again heading N occasionally NNE.
Another sunny day with very little cloud and gentle sailing in fairly calm seas, although occasionally we have been banging into short chop. From 10am I had the radio monitoring 10m (28.540MHz) and had several good contacts with Australia and the USA. Received and sent several emails - system is working very well.
Job of this afternoon was replacing wind steering vane off the stern. Tying everything including myself to the boat for safety lengthened the time taken but finally Fred was looking very smart with the new red covered vane in place.
Looks as though big area of clouds of ITCZ will be reached tomorrow or Wednesday - clear path 300ml to the E of here.
24hr DMG to 2300GMT: 101n.ml. (actual -108n.ml.) Strait of Juan de Fuca: 3585 n.ml. ; Midway Island: 1439 n.ml. (350T)
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Tuesday 21st May 2013
Missed several radio skeds last night - carefully set plotter alarm ... but later turned plotter off to save power ... :-(
Beautiful clear starry night with hints of first light at 4am.
9am Busy at chart table - noticed course was 030T, instead of due N - winds had veered to ESE and increased - jumped up on deck - two enormous rain clouds ahead - reduced genoa alot in readiness and adjusted Fred to bare away. Seas much bigger and rougher. Heavy rain! By 10am, genoa unfurled in light winds. By 11am, sunny again, course due N, speed 4.5kt - close-hauled and pounding into rough seas - slowing us down.
Had several radio contacts on 10m over the morning but the signal was fading in and out.
1pm Solar input 15A with little clouds. Weather faxes are showing NO ITCZ ahead - fabulous! Occasional squalls still possible, but weather gods definitely smiling on us just now...
24hr DMG to 2300GMT: 102n.ml. Strait of Juan de Fuca: 3514n.ml. ; Midway Island: 1337n.ml. (350T)
From: KC2IOV/MM by HF radio. Copied by Jim, WB2REM, Port St. Lucie, FL
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