Sunday 23nd June 2013
I’d been debating heading SE to avoid headwinds by keeping just S of the center of a LOW threatening to descend onto our path ahead in 1-2 days’ time. I kept hoping the next weather FAX would show that move to be unnecessary – but the situation keeps being confirmed.
In fact, to make matters worse, the longer-term forecast shows S to SE winds as I near the coast – so all the more reason to head further S now while I can, since SE winds would force me more N. It should also be noted that a big part of the last leg to Victoria heads SE… So I could end up energetically short-tacking all the way to the finish line!
At 2 AM, I was on deck to raise the pole and take the genoa over to starboard to go downwind goose-winged in SW winds. Always takes a long time to organize everything and make sure all lines are lead correctly – well over an hour, in fact, from donning foulies and boots (it was raining) to coming back down. Seas were down a little and sailing downwind always makes for seemingly calmer conditions, although we’re rolling a lot fairly often. Speed went up from 3.5 kt to 4.5 kt once the genoa was held firmly on the pole.
A grey day again with SW-WSW F3-4 winds and speeds of 4-5 kt.
Another productive afternoon email session on 17m and a weather discussion on 20m – several concerned people have noticed the weather problems ahead, set to slow us down yet again – ETA slipping further.
24hr DMG to 2300GMT: 114n.ml. Strait of Juan de Fuca: 759n.ml. (088T); Victoria: 818n.ml.
From: KC2IOV/MM by HF radio. Transcribed by Tom, N5TW, Georgetown, TX via Ham Radio for posting
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