Saturday 11:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sat 2130 GMT) Bright sunny day again, with pressure still high at 1029 hPa, but a slight breeze and full sail are moving us nicely at ~4.5kt - we're bouncing gently in a slight swell.
About to have my breakfast, having finally finished with daily reports. Have downloaded emails and will study weather updates to make sure my recent change of course to 036T was a good idea...

Weather is cooperating for once - looks like another day of gentle sailing conditions in warmth and bright sunshine - a great way to celebrate a birthday!
Light conditions are not expected to last much longer, with Low and Cold Front coming in by overnight into Monday but looks as though there's a chance we might be able to avoid the worst of the expected gale.

1:40pm Changed back onto more northerly course, although a slower point of sail. Was nice to have more speed being nearly on a beam reach before but a course of 015T seems to avoid strongest winds (40kt or more) developing on Front overnight Sunday into Monday. I'll probably heave to by sunset as centre of Low will be getting close - it's likely to have very strong gusty winds up to 30kt or more, backing very quickly from S to E to N to W. Once winds go into NW-W, I'll know the Low has passed over (tomorrow morning?) so we can get underway again and head ENE - towards the Strait.

2:30pm 'Motor stall' error message came up on AP - not happy to see that... Reset AP and seems to be working OK for time being....
Seeing more shipping now - cargo vessel 'Maullin' is heading across our path at almost 20kt - will pass 5ml off in 40 minutes' time, bound for Yokohama, Japan.

2:45pm Sprayed arm of AP ram, that acts on steering quadrant, with lubricant in hope that will help avoid more 'Motor Stall' messages. Took advantage of being by rudder post to unscrew grease gland and replenish the grease in there - keep having to pump the bilges fairly often due to a slight leak from there.

Warm enough to have a quick deck shower and hairwash in the sunshine - a birthday present to myself to add in to the extra mango juice I just found stored away - thought I had just two cartons left but found three!

3pm Got 'Motor stall' msg again... reset AP... OK...

3:20pm Feeling beautifully refreshed after my shower - even found a touch of perfume to dab on ...! Now for some pancakes... 'Maullin' just passed across our bow as I was taking my shower - big enough to see clearly on the horizon, despite being 5ml off.

5:30pm Afternoon tea in a beautiful pottery mug (thanks, Louise!) - only brought out on calm, special occasions. Had a big slice of 'birthday cake' with it (tasty, rich Dundee).

Pleasant evening - heated up a special ready-made meal (smoked chicken and chorizo in a foil pouch) with a mango juice & gin sundowner before, accompanied by anchovy-stuffed green olives and peanuts, then apricots and cream for dessert... & lots of chocolate!
Chatted on a few radio Nets - made contact with sailing vessels 'Scoots' and 'Anahata' in Fiji - and later with B.C., Oahu, E.Australia, Florida & several more - HF/SSB radio is great! A few more "Happy Birthdays!" received (to add in to the emailed ones) and, all in all, had a very sociable evening in the continuing light conditions, as we made our way slowly N-NNE.

Thanks to everyone for their good wishes - it will take a time to catch up on a lot of emails now...!

Sunday 4:20am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sun 1420 GMT) Dawn breaking - first light at 4am, with waning, near-full moon still shining brightly high up in the clear overhead sky until daylight increased too much and a thin cloud layer also came over. Low bank of grey cloud on eastern horizon, turning slightly pink with imminent sunrise as I brought the genoa over to starboard to go goose-winged - it was far happier and more efficient like that, with us sailing downwind. Our speed instantly improved to around 5kt - should have done that a while ago!
Pressure has dropped a lot recently - now down at 1021hPa, from 1024 last night and 1029 a day ago, as Low gets closer.
Back to my bunk for a little more sleep.

7:20am Bright sunny morning. Wind has backed more towards SSE from S and I was about to take genoa back over to port to keep it filled but a slight change of heading was needed to keep us on course, so it was better left where it is for now. I wonder if there's a slight E-flowing current hereabouts.
Breakfast... Feeling cooler - cabin temperature now at 26C from previous 30C.

8:30am Usual morning weatherfax downloads, while preparing reports for posting soon after 9am. Getting photos ready - takes a bit of time to re-size and edit them.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 319. We made 88 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Surprised it wasn't less.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 318 (by daily DMGs): 26,693 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 985 n.ml. to NE (add ~60 n.ml. to Victoria); Honolulu: 1363 n.ml. to SSW; Papeete, Tahiti: 3561 n.ml. to S; San Francisco GG: 1108 n.ml. to E.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/18 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 41-42.84N LONGITUDE: 146-03.21W
COURSE: 008T SPEED: 5.5kt
WIND_SPEED: 12kt WIND_DIR: SSE SWELL_DIR: SSE SWELL_HT: 1.5m CLOUDS: 80%
BARO: 1020.4hPa TREND: 0 AIR_TEMP: 28.0C SEA_TEMP: 29.0C
COMMENT: Bright & sunny. Thin cloud layer. Goosewinged.

Friday 11:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Fri 2130 GMT) Bright sunshine and pressure even higher than over last two days - has been increasing rapidly as centre of High edges closer. Wind generator blades still not turning, so wind is under 6-7 kt - only the very slightest of a breeze!
Having a mug of tea with my breakfast as I finish with daily reports and look over emails.
Will be taking the big port winch apart again - somehow need to persuade the central stainless steel spindle to slide out of the bronze casing it's held in, so I can get it working properly again...

7:15pm Worked on port sheet winch for a good time in very pleaant sunshine this afternoon - finally got the central spindle out only to find it wasn't the cause of the problem - nothing there to go wrong! So looked again and realised the problem had to be with some of the base cogs. Took one set apart and found a pawl with a missing spring - cleaned, replaced the missing spring, greased and re-assembled - all working fine now - a present to me of a sweet-sounding winch!
While in middle of doing all that, suddenly realised the wind had backed into the ESE and needed to gybe the mainsail... Puzzling, since was expecting S wind of this morning to continue. With pressure up to 1029hPa, same as given for centre of High we've been skirting, can only surely mean that the High has moved N so we're at the S end of it.
Stowed pole, since no longer needed - nice to have a fairly stable deck to do that. Found several flying fishes on deck from a day or more ago.

Sunset - had a sundowner, having decided to celebrate both my Australian-time birthday (Happy Birthday, Tex!) as well as for my present position - gives me two days of special 'treats' and enjoyment!! Weather is cooperating for once - looks like two days of gentle sailing conditions in bright sunshine - how lucky am I?

9pm Not long finished a very pleasant ham radio session on 7160kHz - lots of chats with people and even had a candle lit and blown out for me in Fiji to a tuneful "Happy Birthday"...! (9pm Fri LT = 7pm Sat in Fiji!)

Saturday 3am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sat 1300 GMT) Moon still shining brightly but sky much more cloudy than earlier in the night, when it was almost clear and the sea was lit up with the near-full moon's silver light on the slightly ruffled surface. Very little wind and we're struggling again to stay on course - boat speed is under 2kt - slow!

Looks as though we might be able to avoid the worst of the gale coming on Monday - forecast is changing slightly for the better from my perspective...possibly strong winds to ~30kt but might be able to dodge the stronger winds.

8am Bright, sunny day - clear overhead, with just a very little light cloud near the horizon, and wind not strong enough to turn blades of wind generator so boat speed under 3kt.
Struggling on 8173kHz - very difficult trying to contact Polynesian Magellan Net, with a lot of noise on frequency not helping. At end of Net, made contact on 12353kHz - nice to hear 'Winsome' and 'Malahia'.

9am Changing course to 036T and trimming sails after checking weather ahead - trying to make best speed and course for expected weather coming up! A beautiful, if gentle, sailing day ... perfect!

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 318. We made 59 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. A very slow, light wind day.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 318 (by daily DMGs): 26,605 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1046 n.ml. to NE (add ~60 n.ml. to Victoria); Honolulu: 1277 n.ml. to SSW; Papeete, Tahiti: 3475 n.ml. to S; San Francisco GG: 1128 n.ml. to E.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):TIME: 2019/08/17 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 40-18.48N LONGITUDE: 146-37.83W
COURSE: 003T SPEED: 3.0kt
WIND_SPEED: 8kt WIND_DIR: SSE SWELL_DIR: SSE SWELL_HT: 1.5m CLOUDS: 15%
BARO: 1028.8hPa TREND: 0 AIR_TEMP: 29.0C SEA_TEMP: 30.0C
COMMENT: Bright, sunny day - calm, peaceful...

Thursday 10:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Thurs 2030 GMT) Making fair speed - wind still well up but expecting it to die soon - probably slowly, over today and tomorrow.
Had a chat with Keith Vass of ChekTV News in Victoria at 1pm PDT (10am LT)

1:30pm Seas are definitely calmer than earlier, now that wind has died down as well.
Sky has been consistently light grey with sun only occasionally getting through the thin cloud layer.

2:45pm Slowed right down now - shook out 2nd reef to help improve speed... Very little wind...
Need to service main winch on port side. Used it to hoist mainsail and sounds/feels as though pawls have gone - not working too well so must deal with it - too important an item not to have it working well. Will do now while it's calm...

3:40pm Wind up a bit now - making 5.3kt - very pleasant. Seas relatively smooth so not too much of a problem for trying to deal with winch. Having difficulty removing the central spindle with its pawls - the precise part I need to get apart in order to resolve the fault it's showing.

6pm Wind has been down for a time now - pity, since we were sailing quite nicely, earlier. Had put winch back together, after a bit of cleaning and greasing, but might take it apart again and try removing the obstinate central spindle that is the cause of the problem - it can only come apart the one way so I need to try it again and just keep on trying....

8:40pm Chatted with Julian Clegg on BBC Radio Solent's Breakfast Show (Fri 0740 BST) - annoyingly cut short when Iridium satphone connection failed... Was just about to answer question on having enough food for extended journey.. A good thing I provisioned so well - still have plenty of choice of meals so won't go short before landfall! Even have some 'specials' for tomorrow's celebrations.

11pm Sailing gently under a full moon shining through thin cloud layer, making around 5kt - hope it keeps up!

Friday 7:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Fri 1730 GMT) Bright sunshine, little cloud - and little wind. Tried to bring the mainsail more inboard to increase our speed on a close reach (apparent wind was well forward) but the wind is far too light now. Wind generator blades are not turning, showing the wind is under 6-7 kt - just a very slight breeze! Pressure has increased a lot - to nearly 1029hPa now - well up on 1024 of yesterday and 1020 of day before.
Difficult to maintain a course - we ended up going round in a circle after I'd brought the mainsail inboard.
I've now eased the mainsheet more, to let the sail out again, in hope that will help us to keep going roughly on course. Problem was the swell - as we rock from side to side in so little wind, the wind gets behind the sails (they are 'backed') - and so we end up turning downwind (gybing) and I have to try to bring us back on course by completing the circling, back to where we'd been pointing before, and then try to hold us there.
Seems to be better now, with mainsheet eased. Only making ~1.5kt but direction is good - N!
Cargo vessel 'Thunder Bird' passed well ahead earlier, towards San Francisco maybe.

Just had call from CFAX1070 Radio in Victoria - being interviewed live this afternoon at 4:45pm PDT by Mark Brennae - Afternoon Drive Host.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 317. We made 103 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Surprised to find it over 100ml!

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 317 (by daily DMGs): 26,546 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1088 n.ml. to NE (add ~60 n.ml. to Victoria); Honolulu: 1225 n.ml. to SSW; Papeete, Tahiti: 3416 n.ml. to S; San Francisco GG: 1135 n.ml. to E.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/16 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 39-19.75N LONGITUDE: 146-40.65W
COURSE: 009T SPEED: 1.0kt
WIND_SPEED: 5kt WIND_DIR: WSW SWELL_DIR: WSW SWELL_HT: 1.3m CLOUDS: 60%
BARO: 1028.7hPa TREND: 2 AIR_TEMP: 27.0C SEA_TEMP: 30.0C
COMMENT: Wind way down - windgen blades not turning. Pressure well up.

Wednesday 10am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Wed 2000 GMT) Bright sunshine through gaps in white clouds after yet another rainshower following heavy overnight rain. Seems this could well be the pattern for today ... With rain coming from astern onto companionway area of cockpit, this is when I really appreciate my clear, zippered, storm screen - keeps me dry while I look out from top of companionway steps.
Time for breakfast - just finished posting news(blog), position & weather reports and now downloading fresh weatherfaxes. Made contact with Polynesian Net but nothing heard from Fiji's SoPac Net - this evening should be better - it usually is.

Heard from BBC Solent Radio - will be chatting about my journey and its imminent finish with Julian Clegg on his Breakfast Show around 7:25am BST on Friday.

I heard that today is 'A.L. Results Day' in UK - good luck to all those hoping to get to their preferred University or College, based on their exam results today!

1pm Just had a scare - plotter started beeping - 'Position fix lost' ... (no GPS signal being received). Has done that occasionally before now but normally recovers almost immediately - but this time, the screen went completely blank until it did a re-set - so it came up again eventually but ... what if it hadn't? I could manage - but it's so much simpler and reassuring to see our course and position shown on the screen, in position on a detailed chart.
Looked over weather charts - the 96-hr surface forecast shows a 'Developing Gale' - the Low I've been getting concerned about - showing itself off to the NNW now but it will be close to our W on Sunday 18th and will then head E towards our position.
Making good speed under grey cloudy skies with increased seas - 2.5m now and quite close - we pick up speed as the wave carries us forward with it for 2-3 seconds - surfing!

4:15pm Just had a good siesta, followed by cutting up some more kitchen tissue, needed for use in the head... Nice to see a bird swooping around nearby - not seen many at all on this leg. A very grey, cloudy sky - more rain coming, maybe. not seen much sun today but feeling nice and warm, with air temperature around 29C/85F still - using a fan quite often to stay cool.

8:30pm A mix of radio chats and deck work - wind suddenly veered into SW just before dark so had to gybe the mainsail straight away.... Missed a radio sched but clearly the boat's needs must always take priority...
A very bright full moon is shining over the sea. The big rainclouds seem to have totally cleared away for the time being and left just a few thin clouds around with lots of clear sky for the stars and moon to be seen - a nice end to a rainy day. We also seem to have picked up speed again - making nearer 5.5kt.
Looking, yet again, at latest weather info to make sure we're heading in the right direction for best wind over the days ahead and hoping to be able to avoid worst of the Low and its Front from Sunday/Monday onward. I'm expecting unavoidable light wind ahead for a day or more soon.

Thursday 5am Dawn breaking - lovely delicate colours in the E and some bright pink feathery clouds overhead - sun must be rising but hidden behind light cloud on horizon. Making around 5kt in SSW wind ~12kt and seas still well up and rolling us around. Slight hint of rain on the air - the end of a light shower, perhaps. Generator on - need to top up batteries.
Checked in to 7155 ham radio group - not spoken to them since last October/November on my way S! Good signals from many of them and nice to make the contacts again after so long.
Back to my bunk for some more sleep before breakfast, while fresh weather info is downloading - takes a time... Will check our course and route for next few days over breakfast, once weather info can be seen.

8am Showery on and off today - grey clouds with just a couple of small blue patches of sky. Really rolly in short seas.

_____________________________________________________
Interview with ABC Far North (Cairns, Australia), two weeks ago, is now posted on my website (www.svnereida.com) and also on www.QRZ.com (on my VE0JS page)
*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 316. We made 134 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 316 (by daily DMGs): 26,443 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1149 n.ml. to NNE (add ~60 n.ml. to Victoria); Honolulu: 1141 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 3314 n.ml. to S; San Francisco GG: 1138 n.ml. to ENE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/15 19:00 LATITUDE: 37-37.07N LONGITUDE: 146-31.28W
COURSE: 352T SPEED: 5.4ktkt
WIND_SPEED: 15kt WIND_DIR: SSW SWELL_DIR: SSW SWELL_HT: 2.2m CLOUDS: 98%
BARO: 1024.5hPa TREND: 2 AIR_TEMP: 27.0C SEA_TEMP: 30.0C
COMMENT: Showery day. Rolly in short seas

Wednesday Midday Tahiti/Hawaii time (Wed 2200 GMT) Cloudy, grey start to the day but sun peeking through quite often and feeling quite warm. Still managing to sail goosewinged 'by the lee', with genoa poled out to starboard, but will probably need to gybe the mainsail and change the pole over, if wind veers more to SSW.

Had a lot of catching up on blog - hadn't noted much down over yesterday, so took a time to prepare it before it could be posted.

Have been downloading a lot of weatherfaxes until now - usual morning batch from Honolulu.

5:40pm Enjoying a mug of tea while waiting for latest N. Pacific Surface Analysis (weatherfax) to finish downloading from Honolulu. Checked in to Pacific Seafarers' Net before that and had a couple of radio contacts at the end - always nice to hear voices, rather than just reading emails!

Quite a lot of light overcast but a large area of blue sky astern. Has been a very pleasant warm afternoon with sun often getting out.

Still seeming to be forever studying weather info - if not weatherfaxes, then grib files... No problem for next two days or so, but still a big question mark over the weekend - the forecast Low and its associated Cold Front is still a big concern for me - looks to be over a big area and expect very strong winds with rain but light conditions probably beforehand.

Makes it very difficult to give an ETA - keep being asked for that - best I can do is still 'hoping to be in by end of month'. Still keeping fingers crossed for decent wind to finish, rather than a repeat of last time's drifting in no wind for three nights over the last 60 miles or so while just outside and then inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca!

6:50pm Amazing - still some light in the W! I've really been noticing the later sunset times as I've been heading N...

8:50pm Quite a lot of clear patches in the night sky - have been reminded to look out for the Perseids - a meteor shower this time of year - moon is bright just now so will look later when not masking any meteorite trails.

11pm Sky totally overcast - moon shining dimly through clouds - no meteor shower to be seen tonight!

Wednesday 5am Hawaii/Tahiti time (Wed 1500 GMT) daylight - grey cloudy sky, heavy rain just easing. Mist/light fog ahead, none close by. Wind has veered slightly more.

7:30am Blue sky appearing as sun gets out nicely between breaks in clouds, after more heavy rain... Making around 6kt in SSW wind of just over 15kt - running dead downwind.

9am Sunshine through gaps in clouds - but a dark grey cloud bank astern - more rain coming very soon...

*****************************************************

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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless

they are notified in advance.)

***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 315. We made 128 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 315 (by daily DMGs): 26,309 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1242 n.ml. to NNE (add ~60 n.ml. to Victoria); Honolulu: 1042 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 3181 n.ml. to S; San Francisco GG: 1164 n.ml. to ENE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):

TIME: 2019/08/14 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 35-23.33N LONGITUDE: 146-34.82W

COURSE: 013T SPEED: 6.1kt

WIND_SPEED: 17kt WIND_DIR: SSW SWELL_DIR: SSW SWELL_HT: 2.2m CLOUDS: 90%

BARO: 1020.4hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 28.0C SEA_TEMP: 31.0C

COMMENT: Sunshine after heavy overnight rain. More rain coming soon..?

Monday After early flurry of activity, no further sudden big wind increases - pretty steady wind from SSE at 12-15kt all day, veering slightly to S later on and S-SSW by end of night. Very rolly all day, with a good S 2m swell from astern - being goose-winged always enhances any tendency to rolling.

The grey skies of early morning slowly gave way to broken cloud over the day, with sun trying, and finally occasionally managing, to get through by late afternoon.

Clouds had mostly cleared away by nightfall to give a starry sky with a bright moon shining and giving a path of light across the sea towards us - very pleasant!

Spent a lot of time over the day, downloading and checking updated weather files. The big High to the E, that we've been skirting for several days now, will move soon, changing its shape and shrinking, and is likely to give very light winds close to, or on, our track over the weekend, so the question is how to avoid the lightest of the wind and how to keep moving by avoiding light headwinds...

I've also become very concerned by a deep Low forecast to develop just to our W, over Sat/Sun, with its associated Cold Front moving E across our path by early next week. I've been hoping to avoid getting too close to its centre, but looks as though we shan't be able to avoid the gusty winds and heavy rain on its Front. Hoping to make use of its strong W winds to get NE towards B.C. over next week. It's still quite a few days away, so the forecast could well change in the meantime - hopefully, for the better!.

Also spent time on emails and on the radio - still in contact with a few Nets but getting more difficult to make contact with cruisers in Polynesia and Fiji on their Nets. The frequencies/times used have been fine when closer but not at the distance away (and local time) that we are now. Set up a new regular sched on 7160 at 0730Z - chatted to Ivan, VA7IVN, in his lighthouse location near Port Hardy, and also to Andrew, VK2HBH, in Fiji - clear copy to both.

As day progressed, it got warmer - so we're not yet back into fleeces - far from it!

Tuesday 8:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Tues 1830 GMT) Cloudy start to day, sailing with genoa poled out to starboard still - goose-winged. Will change the pole over today - we need to be on port tack now, with SSW wind, and we're presently sailing 'by the lee'. Can't keep that up much longer, especially if wind veers a bit more, as expected, so need to gybe the mainsail quite soon.

No big ships are presently headed across our path - the next likely 'close encounter' events will possibly occur when we get further N and cross the shipping routes from the San Francisco Bay area heading W to Asia - mostly to Japan and China.

Downloading weatherfaxes now - from Honolulu - far better signal still than from Pt Reyes.

*****************************************************

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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless

they are notified in advance.)

***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 314. We made 126 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 314 (by daily DMGs): 26,181 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1353 n.ml. to NNE (add ~60 n.ml. to Victoria); Honolulu: 918 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 3054 n.ml. to S; San Francisco GG: 1228 n.ml. to ENE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):

TIME: 2019/08/13 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 33-18.03N LONGITUDE: 147-08.92W

COURSE: 014T SPEED: 6.2kt

WIND_SPEED: 15kt WIND_DIR: SSW SWELL_DIR: SSW SWELL_HT: 2.2M CLOUDS: 90%

BARO: 1021hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 29.0C SEA_TEMP: 32.0C

COMMENT: Sun trying to get out from overcast layer.

Sunday 10:20am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sun 2020 GMT) Warm, sunny morning but with quite a lot of scattered cloud and the usual 1.5m SSE seas.Checked updated weather info - now heading NNE with slight course adjustment. Seems we'll definitely run out of wind for 1-2 days over next weekend, as the High spreads, but a Low is then expected to pass over and will give strong wind. It's nice to be on a fairly direct route to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Changing from Honolulu to Pt Reyes for weatherfaxes - Honolulu was excellent for the Tropical region, even when well S of Equator, but now we're further N, the Pt Reyes transmitter (N of San Francisco) gives slightly more relevant weather information.
(Later: Having to stay with Honolulu - reception of Pt Reyes transmissions is terrible whereas Honolulu is coming through beautifully)

10:45am A lot of the earlier cloud has cleared away - blue sky mostly now - another lovely warm day - need to store them up, since it will soon get much cooler and maybe even rainy!

11:40am Thoroughly enjoying a mug of coffee as I catch up with a few emails and check over latest weather info.
The satellite IR photo shows clearly the line of cloud N of Hawaii over the NE Pacific that is giving a good 'wind corridor' NE towards B.C.
Temperature in cabin is 31C and I have a small fan blowing to keep me cool - rather different from the snow I heard yesterday that they had in Melbourne - and Sydney is not exactly warm, either!

8pm Bright moon, clear sky, lots of stars - a very pleasant evening, soon after sunset - but a big crude oil tanker ZHEN HUA35 was on its way, heading W across our path from Long Beach, L.A., to Shanghai, China. They were due to pass rather close by, around 7:30pm, not long after sunset. Contacted them on VHF radio and they passed astern - they diverted slightly to do so. Wasn't sure they understood me, clearly being a Chinese vessel with some poor English spoken by three different people I heard on the radio but we did confirm Nereida is a sailing vessel.

10:30pm Had some fun on the radio - put out a call to see if anyone could hear me and several responded so had a few chats - Bob in B.C., Peter, Tom and Trevor in Australia, Craig in Arizona and finally Andrew in Fiji.

6:30am Woken earlier, near dawn, by sudden strong conditions - found our speed was way too high - wind and seas w well up under overcast sky. Hurriedly furled in a lot of genoa on finding we were rushing along wildly and swinging about with the AP working far too hard - not a good thing to have happen. Thought I caught sight of 10kt, which might have been our speed while surfing on a wave, as I ran up on deck... Waves have built up with increase in wind.
Now still making 6-7kt, with small genoa, surfing at over 8kt and seas looking rather angry. ... Would like to tie in 2nd reef but not possible while mainsheet out so far and sail pinned to shrouds. Would need to head up - but means taking genoa off the pole to do so- one reason to reduce it a lot, as well as slowing us down in the meantime.

7:45am Waited just a short while to assess the situation before acting... Essential to get that second reef tied in... So furled in more genoa to tiny, took it over to port side - off the pole - and then took up on mainsheet (easing preventer as that was done) to get mainsail off the lowers and spreaders. It could then finally be lowered to reef down - but only after luffing up - heading up into the wind a lot so mainsail was no longer filling in the wind. All took quite a time but is now, finally, done and we're roughly back on course. Need to unfurl some genoa now - feels as though the wind, predictably, has died down a bit now, although heading downwind again, as we are now, always feels a lot smoother and more comfortable - misleading, in fact... Can see edge of cloud layer and a long thin patch of blue sky to S, astern... Sun is trying to peek out from grey clouds around. Need to check on wind direction and see about the genoa...

8:45am Back down below again after getting us back goose-winged and on a good course. Found a broken control line on a starboard genoa car, so had to replace that, so the car could be positioned correctly for a good lead on the genoa sheet from the pole, before I could take the genoa back on the pole to starboard... Took a time to tie it in place and rolling around downwind in the increased seas wasn't exactly helpful! Genoa is now furled down to beyond second reef mark and mainsail has second reef tied in. Will need to re-do the line I replaced at some point - it's doing the job I needed just now but it's not quite the right length.
Running generator and watermaker and charging computer...
Sky is grey and air is feeling a lot cooler... having to wear more ... We're definitely into more temperate weather now
Think I need some more sleep!

*****************************************************
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 ye before sunrise.ar, 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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 313. We made 143 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 313 (by daily DMGs): 26,055 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1470 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 803 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 2933 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2080 n.ml. to ESE; San Francisco GG: 1312 n.ml. to ENE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/12 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 31-18.49N LONGITUDE: 147-57.31W
COURSE: 017T SPEED: 5.6kt
WIND_SPEED: 17kt WIND_DIR: SSE SWELL_DIR: SSE SWELL_HT: 2.0m CLOUDS: 95%
BARO: 1020.9hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 27.0C SEA_TEMP: 32.0C
COMMENT: Reefed down - wind got up a lot before. OK now

Saturday 10am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sat 2000 GMT) Had to change course for short time earlier, as wind veered briefly to SSW from SSE in light rain and under a spreading raincloud. Now back on course, having kept mainsail filled, rather than backed, as it had been threatening to do while sailing 'by the lee'. Still goose-winged, with mainsheet now eased further.
Heard from Niue Y.C. and 'Water Music' - their problem was a split hose draining the cockpit - as soon as they tied to a Niue mooring buoy, water ingress stopped. Pipe now replaced and all well on board.
Speed better, for now, and it's quite sunny, with mainly scattered cloud and another light grey raincloud ahead - will keep an eye on wind direction in case another brief course change is needed in veered wind under the cloud.
Breakfast - calm enough to have the pancakes I didn't get to as part of my celebrations yesterday.

Midday Enjoying a (rare!) coffee and about to cook the pancakes... We're sailing along gently and smoothly still at the slightly better speed of around 4.5kt in about 8-10kt of S-SSE wind. Pressure is slightly up, at 1019hPa, and no grey rainclouds are in sight.
I've been studying the weather charts over ...and over... and over.... and looked at all possible options for a good route towards Cape Flattery. Weather ahead is definitely NOT playing ball, throwing unhelpful Lows and Highs into our path.
Looks as though, for now, best plan is to stay on present course towards WP of 30N 150W for a day, and then head NNW towards a WP of 40N 155W over the following week.
A Low is expected to pass close by to N as we get close, with an associated strong Cold Front, so we might need to heave to let that pass over safely, after which we should eventually be able to sail a final leg ENE towards Strait of Juan de Fuca, hoping to finish before the end of this month... :-)
Looking so far ahead, it's highly likely the forecast will change several times, so the plan is made 'in wet sand at Low water' - as usual! What seems fairly clear is that the original hope of getting back NE faster, on a SW wind 'corridor', is not going to happen and the important thing is not to get trapped in the centre of a developing High, with little or no wind for several days.
Not being able to motor through calms or light headwinds will make for a longer time getting back - that's due to the 'unassisted' tag on my record attempt - the entire voyage has had to take place under sail alone.
(I envied Randall greatly, on his 'Figure of Eight' voyage, when he motored through the calms of the Doldrums to get through faster, while I was stuck with drifting about in glassy seas! Part of the reason for this extended voyage time has been the surprising number of times we've been overtaken by calms, often in between strong Lows.... It's been 'Famine or feast,' by way of highly variable wind strengths - in the Southern Ocean especially...)

2:15pm Enjoying pancakes - with Nutella and raspberry sauce - usual good combination!
Before that, I mended my favourite can-opener. Fortunately, despite it falling apart unexpectedly, I managed to prevent any of the bits falling down into the sink plug-hole (a near thing!) so was able to put it back together, along with plenty of Kroil to ease the rusted/jammed parts - so now it's working fine - as is the 'spare'. My 'back-up' basic can-opener was not a great success, so that prompted me to have a go at de-rusting the better ones, cleaning them up and getting them moving and so back into action again.... All good now.

Checked updated weather info - my choice of route not looking so good, so looked again at the alternative - heading NNE. Seems we'll run out of wind for 1-2 days around 17th August but the route is more direct and otherwise looks to have quite good wind, with a Low coming by to give strong wind after the windless day(s) so I've changed course - we're now heading NNE on a much shorter route.

Midnight Radio chat on 7163 with Jim, WB2REM, initially, then moved to get less noise and ended up with a 'phone patch' using Jim's remote link. Mainly making contact with USA and Australia, but also New Caledonia and Eswatini (Swaziland) - a lot of good wishes received for the final leg of this voyage.

2:25am Chatted for some time over VHF radio to 'BW Oak' - a tanker taking oil from USA to Japan, headed WNW at 15.5kt - Indian Capt and Filipino crew. Very friendly and were about to pass 9ml astern of 'Nereida' in about 15min time.
Later: 'BW Oak' saw our AIS signal from 12ml off, a short while after my call to them - they kindly came back to let me know.

8am Sunny morning with scattered cloud and 1.5m SSE seas. Downloading fresh weatherfaxes and gribs, ready to adjust course slightly in light of updated info. Making around 5.5 kt NNE - slightly gusty under clouds. Often rolling a lot - happens often when goose-winged, headed downwind...

*****************************************************
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 ye before sunrise.ar, 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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 312. We made 116 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Better than expected after yesterday's slow speeds.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 312 (by daily DMGs): 25,912 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1611 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 666 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 2806 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2144 n.ml. to E; San Francisco GG: 1429 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/11 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 29-13.27N LONGITUDE: 149-17.21W
COURSE: 031T SPEED: 5.5kt
WIND_SPEED: 13kt WIND_DIR: SSE SWELL_DIR: SSE SWELL_HT: 1.5m CLOUDS: 50%
BARO: 1019.7hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 30.0C SEA_TEMP: 33.1C
COMMENT: Bright, sunny, warm day... Goose-winged.

Friday Midday Tahiti/Hawaii time (Fri 2200 GMT) Never fails to amaze me how well a rolling hitch works! I had my doubts when I startd trying to release the taut first reef line from where it had several turns on the winch that were over other turns which should not have been covered in that way - impossible to release by hand. There wasn't much spare line to work with but once I'd tied a strong (braided Dyneema/Spectra) line around the bar-tight reef line with a rolling hitch, and then led the end of that line to an adjacent winch, it hardly needed much winching at all to ease the tension on the reef line leading to the first winch to enable me to release the line. Took very little time - and I was one very relieved, happy person!

5:30pm Another sunny, warm day, with little breeze. Wind has backed to SSE and died down to about 10 kt so we're making just over 3 kt now - not a fast point of sail in light winds!
Plenty of sunshine but also a lot of light, scattered cloud.

Have spent a long time poring over the weather files - not looking good for next week. Our 'wind corridor' leading NE looks as though it will become a 'dead end' - leading to being trapped at the centre of a big fat High in fact - not good news! Have been trying to see which way would be best to head to try to make the most of winds around a Low coming on the scene soon and then avoid being becalmed, while still getting NE towards Cape Flattery and the Strait of Juan de Fuca - not looking at all straightforward, unfortunately. Might have to make quite a detour... Not the good, fast finish I had been hoping for, after the excellent speed and course of the last few days.

White-tailed tropic bird came by - clearly fancied landing at the mast top but just couldn't manage it as we rolled in the slight swell... I'm pleased to say! Pretty bird - almost all white, with black tail and some black markings on head and leading edge of wings. I think it was a white-tailed but can't remember difference between that and the red-tailed - tail streamers are so fine, they're difficult to see at all, let alone the colour. Think it's a matter of how much black there is on the bird, as well as colour of streamers... Actually, looking again, and thinking about how it tried to land at the mast head, I wonder if it was a red-footed booby, in fact? Bill looks rather heavy, like a booby's...

7:30pm Dark now but with bright moon helping jobs when on deck. Just got back down below after finishing organising the genoa being poled out - always takes a long time to sort out the pole and lines but finally all done as night fell.
Not helped by the usual struggle to persuade the 'hinge' at the pole's mast connection to free up so the pole could be rotated slightly there to enable that end to be lowered and its far end to be moved up into position horizontally once the various lines were attached (another struggle, when one of the snapshackles refused to snap shut easily). So much more stable an arrangement and really good not to have the headsail alternately collapsing and filling in the wind shadow of the mainsail when on such a broad reach - a dead downwind run, in fact.

9:30pm A beautiful night! Feels so much calmer now - and a lot more peaceful. Enjoyed sitting out in the moonlight in the fresh night air with just the gurgling of the water as we pass through slowly and gently.... Wonderful! Wish I could sleep on deck...

Saturday 2am Continuing our slow but steady progress N - at around 2.5-3 kt in not enough wind to turn the blades of the Superwind... We'll be lucky to make a DMG of 85n.l. by 9am this morning... Lovely starry sky with very few clouds, but dark without the bright moon now.

8:30am Just had to change course for short time as wind veered briefly to SSW from SSE in light rain and under big raincloud. Now back on course, having kept mainsail filled... Still goose-winged. Speed better, for now, under clouds although quite sunny at times. Clouds possibly clearing.

*****************************************************
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 ye before sunrise.ar, 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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 311. We made 91 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Better than expected after yesterday's slow speeds.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 311 (by daily DMGs): 25,796 n.ml.

Distances (are all Gt Circle, at 1900GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1712 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 582 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 2691 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2160 n.ml. to E; San Francisco GG: 1499 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/10 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 27-17.87N LONGITUDE: 149-34.40W
COURSE: 356T SPEED: 4.6kt
WIND_SPEED: 12kt WIND_DIR: SSE SWELL_DIR: SSE SWELL_HT: 1.5m CLOUDS: 80%
BARO: 1018.9hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 30.0C SEA_TEMP: 34.0C
COMMENT: Rain cloud - wind veered to SSW briefly, from SSE. Slight rain.

Thursday 11am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Thurs 2100 GMT) Wind has died down a lot - we're making under 5 kt now .. Wind must have dropped to 10kt or less.
I suddenly realised that we'd left the Tropics on passing N of 23 30'N (Tropic of Cancer) just before 11am - so it's party time again on board 'Nereida' today, although it's sad to think we'll be into cooler climes soon - I'm enjoying the warmth now!
Earlier thick layer of cloud has been left behind to give mainly clear sky again - with the lighter wind, I need to shake out first reef - slow going just now.
But I also need my breakfast - have had nothing so far today. Always takes quite a time to prepare and post the daily 9am/1900z reports and deal with emails.
Downloading fresh weatherfaxes and satpic - now able to download fewer each day, since we're well N of the cyclone-threatened area - which is a relief in itself!

Found a small flying fish by the starboard sheet winch - one wing still spread out to show the beautiful lacy pattern within it.

Midday Bright, hot sun now. Finally, full main and genoa - a lot of effort! Had to furl in the staysail (which is small anyway) in order to hoist the mainsail - needed the middle port winch its sheet was using. We're on starboard tack so the main sheet winch and secondary winch to port were both in use.
Think I'll mix up some pancake mix as a celebratory item to have after my breakfast cereal (with the usual dried fruit, nuts & seeds)... and have a bigger mango juice than usual. Will only have food I really fancy today! And, if still calm conditions prevail like now, a 'sundowner', for sure - using some of the 'best Victoria gin' gifted to me on leaving - there's still plenty left in its bottle to mix a little with fruit juice, as a substitute for a rum punch. (I must leave plenty for another celebration coming up in just over a weeks' time.)
Making around 5.5kt now on 010T.

5:30pm Warm, sunny, wind up now to around 15kt - going well at 6.7kt on a course of 015T, bouncing gently, no harsh motion, all very pleasant.
Just ran genset and watermaker - I'll have a quick deck shower very soon while it's still warm and the sun is not too low.
Made a mug of tea, which I'm having with one of the few remaining Tim Tams, while preparing today's main meal - chicken chunks in chicken gravy with addition of sliced mushrooms, sweetcorn, condensed mushroom soup (to give ready-made mushroom sauce) with addition of asparagus tips on the side - all very delicious and definitely a celebratory meal - with no cooking!
Found a tin of apricot halves I'd been searching for - will give a nice dessert with some tinned cream and some pieces of chocolate....
Sundowner with some olives and peanuts beforehand, as I enjoy watching the sunset shortly.

9pm Making excellent speed, 7-8kt, under starry sky with bright moon lighting up the scene - lovely sailing in good wind around 12-15kt.

11:15pm Just got down below - had to tie in first reef in a hurry. Dark clouds came over and wind increased to 15-20kt. We were well over-powered with too much canvas and kept rounding up io the wind - AP couldn't cope... mainsail needed to be reduced. Also took in genoa to 1st mark for overnight - we're now making around 7kt which is perfectly fine but we're feeling more in control and not unbalanced.
Four days of lovely sailing without any squalls was clearly one day too many! Not that this was a rainsquall, since no rain, but was definitely due to dark clouds around giving much increased wind under them and close by them.
Feeling a lot less stressed now and ready to get some sleep - we should be fine with the first reef in. I'll probably find we're making even less speed if the clouds pass over to give clear sky.. Wind is already dying down, as is our speed - it's sounding a lot more peaceful and wind generator is not whizzing around so fast- but the first reef will stay in overnight now. Genoa can always be unfurled if I wish.
One unwanted problem to sort out in the morning - in my hurry to take in the first reef, I didn't put the line through a fairlead leading to the winch and, as a result, it has over ridden badly - will need to deal with that come daylight. A rolling hitch will be needed to take the tension out of the line onto the winch- I love that knot, it's so useful and has so often got me out of bad situations!

Midnight Overcast sky giving fine rain - have unfurled some of the genoa - boat speed is right down now in light wind - only making 3kt, sometimes less. Rolling around in swell.

12:30am Unbelievably - we're rolling around in almost no wind now - making about 2.5kt, often less..! Where did the wind go to? Superwind blades are not turning... so definitely less than 6-7kt of wwind.
Looking at gribs (weather files) - seems the nice 'corridor' of good wind might no longer be expected to hold as it was forecast to recently- will have to head N instead of NNE to avoid being becalmed further N in a few days' time.

8:30am Lovely sunny day again... seas down reasonably well, although still a noticeable swell Wind around 12kt just now, so not strong, but we seem to have made fair progress overnight - more than 140 n.ml. over the 24hr period to now - not too bad!
will have breakfast after posting this report and checking weather/emails - and then get to the problem of releasing the first reef line that over-rode on the starboard sheet winch - won't be easy but, hopefully, will eventually come free...

*****************************************************
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 ye before sunrise.ar, 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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 310. We made 143 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 310 (by daily DMGs): 25,705 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH (Tatoosh Island): 1792 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 522 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 2600 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2170 n.ml. to E; San Francisco GG: 1555 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/09 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 25-46.68N LONGITUDE: 149-41.44W
COURSE: 005T SPEED: 6.1kt
WIND_SPEED: 13kt WIND_DIR: SE SWELL_DIR: SE SWELL_HT: 1.8m CLOUDS: 20%
BARO: 1018.7hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: SEA_TEMP: 34.0C
COMMENT: Cloudy & gusted up overnight - 1st reef in main.
-----
At 09/08/2019 19:00 (utc) our position was 25°46.68'N 149°41.44'W

Wednesday 9:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Wed 1930 GMT) All in all, not much change from yesterday again - lovely, gentle, enjoyable Trade Wind sailing, although rather gusty conditions under frequent, scattered, large clouds - boat speed varying a lot.

3:30pm Bright day with most of the earlier cloud gone away - very little seen now.

Was having a nice siesta just now when my AIS alarm went off... A fishing vessel, 'Sea Pearl', from Hawaii almost certainly, heading W, was due to cross our bow 2ml off in about half an hour. Despite looking out ahead for some time around the expected time they would cross our path, I couldn't see them - too small at 85ft long, even when only just over 2 miles away.

It was so enjoyable being on deck in the bright sunshine and in such lovely sailing conditions that I got my camera and took a video to remind myself of it in the future!

4pm is the time of the Hawaiian Afternoon Net on 7088kHz each afternoon. Propagation today was excellent, unlike two days ago, and it was great to be welcomed once more into the group from all the islands.

5:30pm Really enjoying a mug of tea! Had to let it cool down a little, it's so warm still (32C).

Our speed is still pretty good at around 6-6.5kt but often drops a bit - so our DMG, as measured at 9am tomorrow morning, will certainly be down again - hopefully not by too much.

Weather and winds ahead over next few days still looking very good - we should be able to maintain this good northward progress for several more days at least, with our present NNE course slowly becoming more NE over time.... Winds expected to veer more to SE and then S, and possibly ease a bit very soon, but then should pick up for a time.

Friend Steve, with Vern and Travis, from RVYC , who left Oahu a time ago, are presently just a few days out from Cape Flattery on their way to Victoria also - but motoring in a glassy calm... I just hope that we don't get similar conditions, since I'm not allowed to motor and so need a fair wind to make any headway. Fingers tightly crossed on that!

6:30pm Getting slightly concerned about 'Water Music' - chances are that they're fine but there's been no contact with them since this morning so no confirmation that all is well on board. They don't seem to have AIS to show where they are and their Iridium phone number seems to be out of service (have tried it many times)... so no way of knowing where or how they are if they don't come up on radio when expected - and they haven't done so all day long. Hoping they'll make safe landfall on Niue soon, so we can all relax.

8:30pm Cloudy night. We've picked up speed a bit - looked up on deck - big grey cloud above and to port, hiding the bright half-moon - 'cloud effect' - increased wind under cloud giving us more speed, as usual. Nothing too extreme, so happy to make more distance, but a bit 'bouncy'. Wind has veered slightly to just S of E, as expected.

11pm Clouds have all gone, leaving a beautiful clear night sky with so many stars and a bright half-moon shining down over the sea ...and us. Speed varying still - often we're still making 6.5kt, other times we're down to 5.5kt. Seas are smaller than earlier, but we're still moving about a lot.

Thursday 3am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Thurs 1300 GMT) Wind has died down a lot - we're only making 4-5 kt now .. wind must have dropped to under 15kt.

8:30am 'Water Music' came up on PolyMagnet to say situation basically unchanged - all well on board, still have water leak but under control with still no idea where coming from. A lot of relieved people listening! After their report to the Net, they then tried to make contact with Taupo Maritime Radio but could only do so indirectly via another boat also on frequency who relayed for them. They should arrive Niue tomorrow morning.

Almost complete cloud cover now - but wind still well down so speed down at around 5.5kt - must shake out the first reef.
(Later: Cloud cover left behind - wind still down compared with yesterday.
Received email from 'Water Music' - comms problems yesterday - sent apologies for concern caused by silence.)

__________________________________________________
Far North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air last Thursday morning and a link will be posted when available.

*****************************************************
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 ye before sunrise.ar, 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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 309. We made 135 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. 24hr DMG down a bit more in lighter winds than yesterday.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 309 (by daily DMGs): 25,562 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 1926 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 438 n.ml. to W; Papeete, Tahiti: 2333 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2218 n.ml. to E; San Francisco GG: 1666 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/08 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 23-28.00N LONGITUDE: 150-20.22W
COURSE: 011T SPEED: 5.7kt
WIND_SPEED: 10kt WIND_DIR: ESE SWELL_DIR: E SWELL_HT: 1.8m CLOUDS: 10%
BARO: 1018.5hPa TREND: 0 AIR_TEMP: 30.0C SEA_TEMP: 34.0C
COMMENT: Another sunny day of Trade Wind sailing - lovely!

Tuesday 1:30pm Tahiti/Hawaii time (Tues 2330GMT) This feels like true Trade Wind tropical sailing! Another lovely sunny day, with cloudless, hot blue sky and good wind... Wind seems to have died down a bit more - and seas a little also - so not quite so uncomfortable as earlier today and yesterday but the consequence is a slower boat speed. We're making around 6-6.5kt instead of around 7kt now, so there won't be the same 160-mile DMG seen tomorrow as today. I was delighted to see that figure - definitely worth the discomfort (for a short time)! (Later: Actually made 154 n.ml 24hr DMG to 1900Z today - not bad!)

Spending a lot of time each day, checking weather information in order to plan what looks like the best route to take, so as to stay in the best wind to get N quickly.

I keep trying to change our course slightly, in hope that wind has veered a little - but keep having to change back as we begin to luff up... (i.e. get too close to the wind, so sails are unhappy and aren't drawing so well)

Having a bit of a struggle at times with my can opener - this is the spare, so I hope I've a back up! Opened shrimps to go with chick peas, mixed in with mayonnaise for lunch. No cooking required...

My left ankle keeps swelling - result of too little exercise, I think, and too much sitting around, so I'm trying to flex and circle my feet frequently throughout the day, as well as raising that ankle high when I'm resting.

7:40pm Just had a good demonstration of how useful the SSB radio is to cruisers and why they should all have one on board. A situation developed on 'Water Music', a 45ft vessel with four people on board, en route to the small island of Niue, in the S.Pacific, two days off still. A water leak developed... sea water... So far, they haven't been able to find its source, although they have managed to clear the bilges of water using three pumps (two electric, one manual) - but more is coming in...
At the beginning of every regular cruisers' SSB radio Net session, there is a call for any emergency or priority traffic. So 'Water Music' were able to get immediate assistance at this evening's 'PolyMagNet' (Net based in French Polynesia) and were quickly put in radio contact with Tahiti JRCC (Joint Rescue Coordination Centre) - taking care of the area where they are now. A lot of boats monitored the communication and some were able to help with a relay when needed.
Not only Papeete JRCC were there to take details and stand by in case the situation deteriorated but also, because a standard emergency radio frequency was being used, which is monitored all the time by search and rescue organisations, a US Coastguard cutter, based in Samoa, came on, to check if they could be of help and also Taupo Maritime Radio in New Zealand came on and confirmed they had noted all the information and the NZ MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) were standing by, in case of need also.
All a joint effort, with immediate communication between different people at that time made possible only due to the use by all concerned of SSB/HF radios. Satellite phones have their place, at times - but they can't replace the SSB radio which allows several people in different places to take part at the same time and contribute - important in an emergency or urgency situation if valuable help is to be given.

Midnight Sailing continues well... Making 7kt SOG (speed over ground) in slightly increased wind! Dark but starry sky with no moon and few clouds.
'Water Music' came up twice more, on the hour, to report their status to Taupo Maritime Radio. They felt the situation was finally under control well enough that they could wait overnight and report in to Taupo Radio and the 8am (Tahiti time) PolyMagNet to give an update as they proceed on to Niue. Hopefully, they'll get some well-needed sleep, with someone on watch overnight, keeping an eye on the bilge water level.

Wednesday 5:10am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Wed 1510 GMT) First light - dawn breaking - sunrise not far off. Making 6.6-6.9kt under a sky with quite a few scattered clouds. Wind still from E at around 15-18kt and we're bouncing around and heeling over in good 2m seas. Sea temperature is slowly decreasing - now at 34.0C from yesterday's 35.0C.
All in all, not much change from yesterday - Trade Wind sailing means long tacks with the same sail plan. Not a lot of work, just now, except that it requires quite a bit of effort getting from one side of the cabin to the other - climbing uphill or lurching downhill, needing the many various hand holds in the cabin to make it happen safely!

7am Wind seems to be getting less - up and down a bit, just now...
Have been checking latest weather info and adjusting course slightly as a result.
Time for some breakfast.... Keeping an eye on our speed - if wind stays down, will release first reef.
Pleased to find my left ankle did not swell up at all yesterday - must keep up with the flexing/rotating movements.

8:30am Gusty conditions under frequent large clouds - boat speed varying a lot ... up and down constantly.
'Water Music' came up on Net to report all under control but they still don't know where the leak is coming from. They should arrive in Niue tomorrow but will keep in touch with Taupo Maritime Radio in the meantime.

__________________________________________________
Far North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air last Thursday morning and a link will be posted when available.
*****************************************************
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 ye before sunrise.ar, 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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 308. We made 154 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Nice to see another good 24hr DMG.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 308 (by daily DMGs): 25,427 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2054 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 387 n.ml. to W; Papeete, Tahiti: 2333 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2273 n.ml. to E; San Francisco GG: 1773 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/07 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 21-17.30N LONGITUDE: 150-57.62W
COURSE: 015T SPEED: 5.6kt
WIND_SPEED: 13kt WIND_DIR: E SWELL_DIR: NE SWELL_HT: 1.8m CLOUDS: 45%
BARO: 1017.9hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 29.0C SEA_TEMP: 34.0C
COMMENT: Bright sushine, scattered clouds, wind up & down - gusty under clouds

Sunday 10:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sun 2030GMT) A lovely warm, sunny day of pleasant sailing in good wind... Nice to have caught a few things and fixed them before they led to a major crisis.

Unfurled staysail but not seeming to have made a lot of difference to our speed. Ought to shake out the first reef- but slightly worried about possible squalls later in the day...

2pm Had a siesta to make up for very early start on boat jobs today.
Wind well up - making just over 7kt - sailing well with first reef in (glad it wasn't shaken out!), heeled somewhat but will stay with present sail plan for now and maybe tie in 2nd reef before nightfall, if wind and speed still well up then.

9pm Wind still well up at 18-20t from E so making good speed and excellent progress N. Leaving just first reef tied in for time being, although feeling pretty rough with seas having built more in stronger wind.

Tuesday 8:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Tues 1830GMT) Bright sunny day with scattered cloud - white cumulus. Made excellent progress at good speed overnight. Wind seems down a bit though from last evening and has also backed more to ENE from E- so not able to make quite the course we were - have had to fall off the wind a touch so as not to be too close-hauled now. A bumpy ride again and difficult moving around down below in a well-heeled boat, jerking around all the time... Makes for minimal meal preparation.
Spending a lot of time checking weather and route to take in order to stay in best wind N!

__________________________________________________
North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air Thursday morning and a link will be posted when available.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 307. We made 160 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Excellent!

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 307 (by daily DMGs): 25,273 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2193 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 407 n.ml. to WNW; Papeete, Tahiti: 2180 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2319 n.ml. to E; San Francisco GG: 1886 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/06 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 18-44.36N LONGITUDE: 151-11.67W
COURSE: 000T SPEED: 7.1kt
WIND_SPEED: 18kt WIND_DIR: ENE SWELL_DIR: ENE SWELL_HT: 2.5m CLOUDS: 60%
BARO: 1017.6hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 30.0C SEA_TEMP: 35.0C
COMMENT: Close to wind - heeled, bumpy ride.Bright, sunny day

Sunday 10:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sun 2030GMT) Creeping along at around 1kt in very little wind - only just about holding our course with difficulty.
Just downloaded latest weatherfaxes and satellite photos - TS Flossie is weakening and in two days' time will be a 'normal' non-threatening Low pressure system to N of Hawaiian Island chain with remnants of TD Erick and Gil not appearing anywhere.
The two cyclones have caused me another long delay on my circumnavigation - instead of being nearly halfway to Cape Flattery now, we're only about to start from E of Hawaii Big Island in two days' time.
The weather ahead is looking most unusual with the normal N.E. Pacific High pressure system being chopped in two by a big Low becoming a trough over the next 1-2 weeks - so getting N under sail alone, without the use of the motor, will not be as simple as it usually is... I'm still feeling optimistic and hoping to be back before the end of August - fingers tightly crossed that happens... It's going to be close.

Today's major project, while conditions are fairly calm, is to try to finish dealing with emails - thought I was well on my way to finishing but now see I've still plenty to deal with... Also saving the many photos and videos I've been taking - wouldn't want to lose those! Space is getting limited, so need to upload/save them to a hard drive to make space on the memory card.

1pm "Beep, beep, beep,...." - the AP control was insistent. "Off course"... We were hove-to in very little wind, drifting WSW... The wind had shifted and we were drifting downwind. I took the helm and guided us around in a gybe and got us on course, close to the wind - our SOG was SSE - not good! Steered us around again, gybing, until we were hove-to again - drifting WSW at just under 2kt with bow pointing WNW in 7kt wind.
Decided to take genoa over to port side, putting us on starboard tack, to see what course we could make.... With bow pointing 325T, we're now making 290T - better, heading N - good - although also heading W - not so good... but only at around 2kt. Wind is forecast to stay well down but expected to veer to ENE later today and ESE by midnight, becoming a good E wind by this time tomorrow - when Flossie's remnant Low should be well off to the NW, over the island chain. So our COG should improve with time today, becoming more N, even NNE tonight.

2:10pm Difficult to maintain a course - sails get so easily backed in the light wind as the 2m swell knocks us about and we end up hove-to again... Around we go... We're presently makng 280T on starboard tack at ~ 2.5kt. If we end up heaving to again, I'll just let us drift until the wind comes up more and we can make way sensibly again.
Time for another weatherfax and satpic... and some food.

2:45pm Just finished another ham radio session on the Hawaiian Afternoon Net - I had excellent copy on everyone and was again made to feel very welcome.

Later took a lovely refreshing deck shower in the hot sun - why does having clean hair make me feel so good?

6:25pm 259T looks like our course - but we're actually turning around slowly in circles as we drift WSW. Makes me feel like an ice-skater! As is the custom, I'd lashed the wheel to windward on finding that we'd gone hove-to, yet again - but the wind was so light, that just made us go around in circles clockwise, even after reducing the genoa.

9:45pm Decided there's absolutely no point in trying to sail until the wind comes up over 8 kt (i.e. windgen blades are turning!) - not happening at moment, although we're now drifting 280T.... Just went on deck to check conditions - lovely fresh night air with stars everywhere, some haze, but no wind. It should slowly start filling and veering towards SE overnight as Flossie passes us by - maybe not strong enough to sail until morning. But from then on, we should be able to sail nicely for quite a few days - maybe all the way to Cape Flattery ...I live in hope!!

Monday 8am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Mon 1800GMT) Happy B.C. Day to all in/from B.C.!
Beautiful sunny day with almost clear sky and a long, smooth, 2m swell from E. Underway at last in good E wind, making 4.5kt, having finished with some pretty important jobs.
Was up at first light at 5:30am and went on deck to stick some reinforcing patches over an area on the mainsail that needed attention. In going to centre the boom, for easier sail access, I noticed that the outhaul shackle pin had come completely undone - luckily, the first reef line shackle was still in place that was also attached to the same shackle and the boom outhaul ring was also held down by a soft shackle for extra security. No wonder the sail shape has been not too good lately!
Sunrise was almost exactly at 6am Hawaii/Tahiti time. The wind was clearly up nicely from the E, although not strong, and the sea-state was gentle.
In dealing with the outhaul problem, I noticed the first reef line was badly chafed by the ring aft of the reef cringle near the boom - so the chafed end had to be cut off and the line re-attached around the boom. (A sail tie held it in place in the meantime)
Once that was done, I wanted to get underway - but decided the starboard genoa sheet really needed to be replaced - I'd noticed it was badly chafed in one place a while ago but we've not needed it since we've been mainly on starboard tack (wind from starboard side) recently, heading N in winds from the E quadrant. Best to replace it now, while that was easy to do, rather than have it suddenly give way under use later on sometime - that could be nasty!
I'd also noticed that the damaged windscreen windows had been leaking rather a lot in heavy seas or rain - so replaced some small lengths of loose Gorilla tape in hope it would be more water tight.
Finally got to the mainsail - and dealt with a few small areas where it was either torn or nearly holed... Just sticky tape reinforcing on the one side of the sail I could get to, but better than nothing.
Feeling happy I caught the outhaul and reef line problems in time, preventing a major issue on releasing the first reef (which I'm about to do now to give better speed) and good to feel secure in knowing the genoa sheet won't give way in use later.
Think today will be a lovely warm, sunny, sailing day...

__________________________________________________
North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air Thursday morning and a link will be posted once available.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 306. We made 22 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Mostly drifting back & forth... and around in circles while hove-to in no wind....

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 306 (by daily DMGs): 25,113 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2343 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 474 n.ml. to NW; Papeete, Tahiti: 2023 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2381 n.ml. to ENE; San Francisco GG: 2013 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/05 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 16-06.11N LONGITUDE: 151-35.37W
COURSE: 004T SPEED: 4.6kt
WIND_SPEED: 12kt WIND_DIR: E SWELL_DIR: E SWELL_HT: 2.0m SWELL_PER: 8
CLOUDS: 5% BARO: 1015.4hPa TREND: 2 AIR_TEMP: 31.0C SEA_TEMP: 35.0C
COMMENT: TD Flossie gone NW. Underway at last - lovely sunny day

Hope my friends in B.C. are having a good long weekend holiday, to celebrate B.C. Day on Monday!

Saturday 11:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sat 2130GMT) Wind up ... a band of rainshowers and raincloud ahead, to port and to starboard - right across our path! Furled in some genoa to keep our speed down to below the 6kt I'd been seeing. With TS Flossie still approaching, don't want to get ahead of it - want it to pass ahead of us instead, so need to keep speed down for that reason.

11:45am Well, speed came down - too much ... Light rain and plenty of grey cloud overhead and wind has backed, so very hard on wind now - part reason why speed has dropped so much Came off the wind a touch but now it has died down even more in light rain, so speed still low - windgen only just spinning.

1pm Wind has veered to SE quadrant and still very light - 5kt or less - Superwind not turning at all. Full genoa again but not doing very much and edge of light grey cloud ahead, dark grey cloud well astern, decks wet everywhere, hardly moving. Flossie must be NE now but a good distance away. Suspect we'll be in light winds now for maybe a day or more - until Flossie passes due N of us, when wind will be from S - that is supposed to be on Monday. If I'd realised we were going to be so slow now, I'd have left the genoa fully unfurled earlier and enjoyed some speed for a time!

Feeling famished - time for a tuna lunch.

1:45pm Heavy rain again but still little wind. Grey cloud has spread overhead and blue sky ahead at edge of cloud has vanished from sight.

2:45pm Creeping along at 2kt or less in very little wind - just about holding our course. Just looked at latest forecast - Tropical Depression 8-E, at 15N 123W, is now following behind TS Flossie... Hope that doesn't cause us any problems...

2:50pm Just finished a very enjoyable ham radio session on the Hawaiian Afternoon Net - all islands represented and there were several people I've spoken to before now. I had excellent copy on everyone and was made to feel very welcome - thank you all for that! Disappointing that I shan't be able to meet with some of you by stopping - one of the drawbacks of a nonstop voyage is not being able to meet face to face with any of the many radio contacts I've made... Not just now, for sure.

We're still crawling along in very light wind from ENE at around 2kt...

Forecast on Tropical Depression 8-E, now named Gil, received later:

TROPICAL STORM GIL NEAR 15.0N 122.4W 1006 MB AT 2100 UTC AUG 03 MOVING WNW OR 285 DEG AT 10 KT. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 35 KT GUSTS 45 KT.

24 HOUR FORECAST TROPICAL STORM GIL NEAR 15.5N 125.6W. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 35 KT GUSTS 45 KT.

48 HOUR FORECAST TROPICAL DEPRESSION GIL NEAR 15.5N 129.2W. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 30 KT GUSTS 40 KT.

72 HOUR FORECAST DISSIPATED..... Good news!

Midnight Sky fairly clear - brighter stars visible everywhere. Still only light winds, as expected ... making N-NNW. Winds expected to continue, even lighter possibly, over next 24hr, becoming northerly before swinging to southerly near end of period, finally becoming E.

Sunday 3:10am Just had to gybe around with wind more from NNE, possibly. Now heading NW for a time - will either have to heave to or head ESE if necessary, to avoid getting too far W.

6:50am Bright, sunny, calm day - mostly blue sky with just a few cumulus around - 10% maybe. Saw a bird flying close to sea - like a pair I saw yesterday - but not seeing well enough to get details - possibly a petrel, definitely not a booby, frigate, albatross or storm petrel! White below, long, dark upper wings, head marked with dark markings on white - maybe black cap, collar and/or breast... Tried to take photos yesterday but just too far away. Must keep camera handy...

Changed course, after gybing around - had an alarm set to wake me to make sure we avoided getting too far W. Took a time, in light N-NNE wind of around 10kt, to adjust course - now making ENE-E (080T) at around 2kt.

Back to bunk for a little more sleep before Polynesian Magellan Net at 8am - twice-daily SSB check-in and enjoyable chats with the cruisers on that Net. Sometimes manage still to chat also with the SoPacNet in Fiji area but usually propagation is far better in evenings - getting difficult to make contact on 6MHz now I'm so much further away. A lot of familiar boat names and friendly people after several weeks of chatting on the two Nets.

__________________________________________________

North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air Thursday morning and a link will be posted once available.

*****************************************************

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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless

they are notified in advance.)

***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 305. We made 61 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 305 (by daily DMGs): 25,091 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2344 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 497 n.ml. to NW; East Cape, N.Z.: 3639 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 2010 n.ml. to S; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 2366 n.ml. to ENE; San Francisco GG: 2008 n.ml. to NE.

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):

TIME: 2019/08/04 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 15-54.58N LONGITUDE: 151-15.95W

COURSE: 071T SPEED: 2.1kt

WIND_SPEED: 10kt WIND_DIR: NNE SWELL_DIR: NE SWELL_HT: 2.0m CLOUDS: 10%

BARO: 1014.6hPa TREND: 2 AIR_TEMP: 30.0C SEA_TEMP: 35.0C

COMMENT: TS Flossie passing to NNE - light winds, dying more;

I hope my friends in B.C. have a good long weekend holiday - Happy B.C. Day! I'll be celebrating with you on Monday!

Friday 10am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Fri 2000 GMT) Bright, sunny day with lots of scattered light cloud around but very few grey clouds, so heavy overnight rain seems to have cleared away. Swell quite big, from NNE at 2.5-3m and quite close, so pretty rolly conditions. Making good speed at 6.4 kt. Getting warm.

12:30pm Was busy writing email when realised we were heeling, accelerating... and sunlight had disappeared with a big cloud overhead - a rainsquall...! Took in a lot of genoa, since easy to do, and left main with first reef... Expected the heavy rain and strong wind to stop soon and be back into sunny calm weather, once we'd get beyond the edge of the dark grey cloud overhead that I could see ahead ... but not so! Beyond that dark cloud was an extensive area of lighter grey rain cloud with plenty of wind still... Big seas tossed us around like a toy boat in a bath tub... Not enjoyable!
Just downloaded the latest satpic - it's showing a SE trailing band of cloud from TS Erick (to our NW) joining up with a trailing WSW band of cloud from below TS Flossie (to our ENE - still a good distance away) - and we seem to be right in the middle of it all. Hopefully, we'll leave it behind soon, as we head N into clearer skies...
12:50pm Must get something to eat - it's been so rough I've only had a handful of almonds so far today. Think things are calming down now - some sunshine is getting through...

7:25pm Heavy rain and an increase in wind - so we were speeding along at 6kt for a short time while the rain lasted. Very short-lived and we hardly heeled at all - unusual but welcome! Busy with evening radio Nets and contacts - all very pleasant and sociable, as usual. Nice to chat to Gil, N2GG, in New Mexico, tonight - we could neither of us hear the other yesterday but clear tonight - great!

Saturday 6:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Sat 1630GMT) Sailing gently in 2.2m swell and wind of around 10-12kt from NE, making COG of 355T with bow pointing due N. Wind only just filling the main when the swell moves the boat around, so not going very fast just now - only making around 4kt despite the full genoa I just let out from overnight. Keeping the first reef in for time being, in case of squalls - have had frequent rain overnight but only rainclouds now seen are astern of us or on a distant horizon ahead. might shake it out later.
Sky mainly covered in cloud of one kind or another - a real mix of cloud types, with mostly a thin, well-broken layer overhead and plenty of blue sky showing... A pleasant-looking morning.
Found three small flying fish on deck from overnight - and every so often, see a small shoal of tiny ones take off, glistening in the light, close to the water surface, as we disturb them on passing through.
Running the generator and watermaker and about to have breakfast (looking forward to opening a fresh mango juice) before latest downloads of weather info and any incoming emails. Spent quite a time last evening catching up with emails - still some to deal with but nearly up to date.
Decided I ought to measure out my remaining cereal - have made the daily portions (using a measuring cup) rather smaller as a result! Glad I did that now...
_____________________________________________________

North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air Thursday morning and a link will be posted once available.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 304. We made 105 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 304 (by daily DMGs): 25,030 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2395 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 547 n.ml. to NW; East Cape, N.Z.: 3589 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 1949 n.ml. to S

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/03 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 14-53.90N LONGITUDE: 151-06.08W
COURSE: 000T SPEED: 4.2kt
WIND_SPEED: 12kt WIND_DIR: ENE SWELL_DIR: NE SWELL_HT: 2.5m CLOUDS: 80%
BARO: 1013.9hPa TREND: 2 AIR_TEMP: 30.0C SEA_TEMP: 36.0C
COMMENT: TS Flossie soon to pass to N - might need to heave to, to stay clear

Hope those of you in B.C. have a good long weekend holiday - Happy B.C. Day! I'll be celebrating with you on Monday!

Thursday 2:10pm Tahiti/Hawaii time (Thurs 1400GMT) Been very busy in galley area - a lot to deal with, so not just a quick simple job. Usual weatherfaxes and satpics download is about to start and have had t deal with a power supply problem to the Aurora. For some reason, a 12V cigar plug supply decided to go down - so had to change that plug and check the system was powered up and then re-boot the Aurora software - hopefully, all will be OK from now - pinging seems too be showing everything is back to normal - so I'll get the latest Miami and Hoolulu TC Erick and TC Flossie info now.

4pm Been busy solidly - weatherfax from Honolulu not being transmitted - spoke to Office - she confirmed she wasn't hearing noise of Weatherfax being transmitted - nothing coming out just now - "The 'tech' will be in tomorrow morning"...!!
In meantime, she gave me updated position etc for Flossie - moving 290T at 16kt - excellent - if it keeps that up, will be well out of our way quite soon and heading to NE of Big Island - so they'll be pleased if she misses them! Also seems to be continuing to weaken - now a Tropical Storm.
Our speed is well down now, 2.5kt, in light wind of 5kt or less... Not going anywhere just now ...

4:35pm Brilliant! Just checked out the shower on deck. There's enough water in the tank now to allow the system to be pressurised - and stay pressurised .... meaning the deck shower works - great news!
Heating up my food for later - with no refrigeration in use, need to bring to boil and hold it there for a few minutes each day, to make sure it stays good.

9pm Short rainshower - enough to give more wind so our SOG was suddenly up at well over 5kt - but not for long ... Speed is back down now to around 3kt - rain has stopped.
Downloading latest batch of weatherfaxes - it's nice that, once started, I can get on with something else while they download. Interestingly, they're coming in fine - I reckon someone forgot to throw a switch earlier and that's why they weren't transmitted...!
Time for food and then, once weatherfaxes have finished, to my bunk for sleep... Might check night sky first, if rainclouds have moved away.

10pm Wind well up and from ENE, unexpectedly. Making excellent speed - often over 7kt. Probably just rain clouds but might last overnight into tomorrow morning - good to be making speed one more. Expecting E wind - so maybe that's what just arrived?

Friday 1am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Fri 1100GMT) Making around 6.5kt in rain and ENE wind. Furled in quite a lot of genoa a short while ago, on seeing our speed suddenly go up to 6-7kt, ready for gusts expected overnight. Wind will be up and down as we come under and exit from under rain clouds. Back to my bunk...

5:55am Dawn breaking with vivid colours in a cloudy sky - frequent rain overnight, decks wet. Unfurled some genoa to speed us up from 4-5kt to around 6kt, as rain died away - might have tied in rather too much overnight bt better too much than too little in possibly squally upcoming conditions. Adjusted our course, in wind from NE quadrant, to head for a distance off Cape Kumukahi on Big Island's E coast.

8am Sunny, bright day with lots of scattered light cloud around but very few grey clouds so heavy overnight rain seems to have cleared away. Swell quite big, from NNE at 2.5-3m and quite close, so pretty rolly conditions. Making good speed at 6-6.5 kt. Getting warm already.
__________________________________________________
North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air yesterday morning and a link will be posted once available.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 303. We made 99 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 302 (by daily DMGs): 24,925 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2470 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 633 n.ml. to NNW; East Cape, N.Z.: 3508 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 1845 n.ml. to S

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/02 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 13-11.50N LONGITUDE: 150-45.85W
COURSE: 332T SPEED: 6.0kt
WIND_SPEED: 15kt WIND_DIR: NE SWELL_DIR: NNE SWELL_HT: 2.5m CLOUDS: 80%
BARO: 1012.2hPa TREND: 2 AIR_TEMP: 32.0C SEA_TEMP: 36.0C
COMMENT: O'night rain cleared away, a few grey clouds - not many;

Wednesday 10:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Wed 2030 GMT) Bright, sunny and warm already... No wind (windgen blades not turning), drifting WNW while hove-to - just went around in a circle with slight swell knocking us around. Very peaceful, rocking quite often, sometimes a lot more. TC Erick due to pass N of us this afternoon, several hundred miles away - a good distance.
Downloading latest batch of weatherfaxes and checking latest gribs - usual breakfast time occupation.

Once Erick has passed, there'll be a short time with some S winds, and then possibly some E wind or perhaps nothing for a few days until Flossie passes by, also N of our position but not until after the weekend.

It's already a difficult time, waiting & drifting for so long when I should be well on my way N to finishing, so I'm going to have to get on with some useful projects so as not to feel this long time waiting around has been totally wasted.... Galley clear-up and more on mainsail repair are today's projects!

11am Drifting NW, with bow pointing NNW. Occurred to me that I'd best get on with sail repair now, in case Erick passing by to our N later brings rainclouds.

2pm S wind kicked in enough, just after midday, to get sailing - not very fast, since wind was only 10kt or less - often not enough (under 7kt) to get wind generator blades rotating but at least we're moving in the right direction, still a week away. Quite possible that the wind won't last very long . The boom preventer is essential - swell is now a pronounced 2.5-3m from NNE so, without the preventer, the boom would often be swinging around wildly.
I'd just finished with what was urgently needed on the sail repair when I felt increased wind and realised we could get underway again. I delayed shaking out the 2nd reef until I'd patched up quite a good-sized tear that was just within reach from the cockpit.

2:30pm Time for a siesta while another load of weatherfaxes and satpics download - feeling quite tired - probably because raising mainsail is hard work without the electric drill 'cranker' available to help with the winching.

3pm Wind seems to be dying - only making 2-3kt now... Windgen not turning...

4:25pm Windgen still not turning - so wind under 6kt.... making 2.5kt!

6:40pm Last light in sky after sunset - still underway in SSE wind of 5-10kt - making only around 3.5kt SOG... TC Erick now due N of us, a good distance away but giving a good-sized 3m NNE swell...

Decided to celebrate being underway (never mind the speed!) by having a 'sundowner' while enjoying the lovely pink clouds at sunset - in company with a pair petrels...! (Had the last few roasted cashews with my drink - but have lots of almonds left!)
About to make a meal of diced ham plus chick peas and chopped tomatoes with additional tomato purée - trying to ring the changes on the food side, as certain items are finished...

9pm Sitting out in the cool night air in the cockpit, enjoying my late meal of ham, chick peas and tomatoes which is proving tasty and was very easy to prepare.
Watching for meteorites as I eat. Spotted my favourite constellation - the Dolphin (Delphinus) high above, not far from Cygnus, the Swan.
Wind still well down - no windgen motion - so creeping along at about 3kt NW.

10:45pm Wind came up a little with some rain - we were making around 4.5-5 kt for a time, but not for long.

Thursday 4:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Thurs 1400GMT) FIRST OF AUGUST _ unbelievable that we're still on passage with another four weeks or so (hoping for less, but doubtful) to our finish...!!!!
Gybed onto starboard tack in light rainshower and in darkness. Wind from SE now and died down a lot after the rain so now making just 4kt instead of earlier 6kt I'd noticed as I went up on deck to organise the gybe in the rain..

5:30am Dawn breaking and wind dying more... down to 3.5kt SOG now. Grey rainclouds off astern and to starboard - dramatic line of them, as they rise high up, with pink streaks of higher cloud behind them, lit up by rising sun - as yet unseen.
There are two good-sized swells running, both around 2.5m or more - one from N (from TC Erick), the other from SE (wind direction) - making for lumpy seas, but they're well-spaced so not causing too much rolling around.

6am Dolphins! I've been on deck for quite a time, enjoying the changing cloudscape and colours with sunrise. Suddenly realised we had company - a group of dolphins - small, very dark grey with very recurved, small dorsal fin, were swimming alongside and around the bow, often in twos and threes. Quite small and rarely jumping - only saw two leaping out of the water in half an hour of watching them.
The sun was finally completely above the horizon at 5:50am and shone brightly from under the long line of grey rainclouds - now thinning and no longer looking so showery .
While it's cooler, think I'll make some pancakes for an early breakfast...

7:40am Adjusted course slightly to come off the wind a tad more - very downwind but we can just make it... Don't want to head too much towards the Big Island of Hawaii since TC Flossie is due to hit there on Monday so I don't want us to get too close to her track.
Pancakes were good - have learned not to use too much Nutella - very sweet, although nice and chocolate-y. Raspberry sauce from Hobart is far less sweet and makes a good, fruity complement.
Will make some coffee while on first of today's projects - galley clear-up - after posting this, then on to poling out the genoa at some point, if not too rolly, and then on to wading through a backlog of emails - some outstanding from several days now...

9am Wind just veered to SSE - adjusted course since difficult to maintain downwind couse in swell.. Windshift maybe due to 'cloud effect' - several large clouds seen close by.
____________________________________________________

Far North (Queensland) ABC (Cairns) interview went out on air yesterday morning and link will be posted once available.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 302. We made 74 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Drifting S, hove-to, until after midday Wed.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 302 (by daily DMGs): 24,826 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2531 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 734 n.ml. to NNW; East Cape, N.Z.: 3459 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 1760 n.ml. to S

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/08/01 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 11-46.83N LONGITUDE: 149-50.99W
COURSE: 327T SPEED: 4.4kt
WIND_SPEED: 12kt WIND_DIR: SE SWELL_DIR: N SWELL_HT: 2.5m CLOUDS: 70%
BARO: 1011.9hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 32.0C SEA_TEMP: 37.0C
COMMENT: Waiting on wind to back to E for course change to NW.

Tuesday 10:30am Tahiti/Hawaii time (Tues 2030 GMT) TC Erick comes closer - due to pass N of us tomorrow afternoon.
Downloading latest batch of weatherfaxes and checking latest gribs.
Also getting regular text updates over the day on Erick and Flossie from Honolulu and Miami.
As of now, seems our position is fine - clearly don't want to get too close, of course, and expect Erick to pass to N of our position tomorrow. Was good to see it heading WNW instead of due W yesterday...
Will almost certainly heave to sometime today, to make sure of being well S as Erick passes by - and that will leave just Flossie to worry about...

12:50pm Rain just came in - so I had to stop the job I was doing on the mainsail... Probably a complete waste of time (and tape), but I just felt I had to try to do something to reinforce where it was torn along the leech - below all the previous leech edge repairs (between batten pocket and third reef point).
Started with sail repair tape (only have spinnaker lightweight tape left now) but that proved very difficult to get nicely into place ... perched high up and with the boat rolling around all the time. So I reverted to Gorilla tape around the edge and onto both sides of the sail - at intervals along the edge. Was adding some more sail repair tape over the torn sail edges in between - but then the rain came in. Might help for a few days of sailing.. or might come completely undone very quickly - but at least I've done what I can to try to improve things...
Time for a short siesta before some lunch.

10:15pm Beautiful night with a refreshing breeze and almost no cloud. Just turned the wheel to gybe around and heave to - boat's bow is now pointing ENE-E-ESE in N-NE wind of 12-15kt and we're drifting due S at about 0.5kt - I just 'stopped the boat' by heaving to. The wind had dropped and has been highly variable for last few hours, and with TC Erick approaching, the wind will be shifting a lot, so it's simpler like this - we'll follow the wind around as it changes direction with Erick's approach.
It feels very calm and peaceful now. Think I'll sleep well tonight.
As I went towards the wheel in the cockpit, I had to stop and admire the night sky with its many stars - and just then, a meteorite flashed across - awesome!

Wednesday 5:20am Drifting still, at 0.7kt, hove-to in very little wind - under 5kt - with first light of dawn beginning in a mainly clear sky with very thin cloud in places overhead but big clouds over E and S horizons. Bow pointing NE-ENE but we're drifting SW, so the wind, what little there is, is from NE quadrant. rolling a lot in swell from N - Erick is getting closer to N of here and sending a swell our way - coming onto us just for'd of our beam, hence our rolling so much.

5.35am Pink-topped clouds in E - sunrise beginning... Drifting due S just now in N swell - not very big but close. Full daylight now but no sign of sun as yet - behind those big clouds on horizon ahead.
Back to my bunk for more sleep.

8am Bright, sunny day with still little or no wind - blades of Superwind not turning and we were drifting (backwards!) WSW, just changed to W, at well under 1kt, bow pointing NNE, rolling in 1.5m swell, hove-to.

____________________________________________________
"QSO Today" podcast of interview with Eric, 4Z1UG, is at:
https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/VE0JS

Link to the Adelaide ABC interview about my Equator crossing is:
https://www.dropbox.com/l/scl/AABxD90n-HB3iQfK-iF5EdSDK2zXs4iF3DU

Link to the Far North (Queensland) ABC interview (2 days ago) goes out on air this morning and link will be posted once available.

*****************************************************
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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
***************************************************

1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 301. We made 21 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Drifting, while mainly hove-to since last evening.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 301 (by daily DMGs): 24,752 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2559 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 808 n.ml. to NNW; East Cape, N.Z.: 3438 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 1706 n.ml. to S

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):
TIME: 2019/07/31 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 10-52.56N LONGITUDE: 148-59.42W
COURSE: 273T SPEED: 0.9kt
WIND_SPEED: 4kt WIND_DIR: E SWELL_DIR: N SWELL_HT: 2.0m CLOUDS: 50%
BARO: 1010.9hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 31.0C SEA_TEMP: 36.0C
COMMENT: Hove-to, avoiding hurricane Erick, passing by to N today.

Monday 10:30am Hawaii/Tahiti time (Mon 2030 GMT) Rolling around a lot, every so often - from side to side. Not much wind, maybe 8kt from NE, but quite a big swell which really heels us over. Overcast sky - grey cloud with frequent but light showers. Very quiet with so little wind. Trying to download latest weather to see which way Erick is heading - due W or slightly more WNW as it heads this way... A big difference from my point of view!

11:25am Just had a reassuring chat with Peter, ZL1PWM. According to the usually very reliable ECMWF (European weather model), Erick is expected to be at 15N 150W on Wed 31 July (2 days' time) at 5pm LT and at 17N 160W on Fri 2 Aug (4 days' time) at 5pm LT. We are presently at 10 30'N 147 45'W and won't be going any further N than 12N, maybe a lot less since wind is expected to stay very light or disappear in these parts, to S of Erick's track.

Erick is a very tight, contained system, with its strong winds not reaching out very far from its centre.

Feeling pretty tired - not enough sleep overnight - will lie down very soon, after a late breakfast...

2:30pm Rain, again... Not very heavy this time, and with only about 12-15kt of wind, so not so very strong, but prolonged and coming from a totally grey, cloudy sky, not an isolated raincloud as has happened often, recently.

Just finished chatting to Kier Shorey of ABC Radio Far North (Queensland) in Cairns, Australia about my journey, now into Day 300 - unbelievably long and now longer due to the need to avoid the two hurricanes threatening this week!

Feel a bit less tired after catching up on some sleep before our chat but will probably take another siesta after some lunch.

Speed around 2.5-3 kt and heading WNW still. About to have some more water - feeling parched... Good to know that the watermaker is working fine. Cabin temperature is around 32C/90F.

Downloaded more weather info on Erick and Flossie from both Honolulu and Miami Hurricane Centre. They are both forecast to move more WNW from now on so we should be fine on our present course and (very low!) speed, expecting to stop around 12N and heave to once we get there. The main unknown is how long it will be before we can safely move on again - I'm hoping to make use of wind behind Erick as it passes to our N, but need to know that Flossie will not be a problem if I do that.

4:45pm Sun well hidden now by darker grey clouds, threatening rain again - no longer any blue patches visible in sky. Rocking and rolling a lot in the swell. No wind - Superwind blades not turning. Nearly time to check in to Pacific Seafarers' Net.

Have been looking in bird book - seems the bird I saw a day or so ago was a petrel because of the wing shape, among other things - but there are so many different ones I need to see it again to check its features in more detail. A photo would be helpful but it's often really difficult to get a good enough photo of a fast-moving, unexpected bird passing close by... Often the camera just isn't nearby, anyway.

5:30pm Heavy but short-lived rainfall - boat speed increased to 4.5kt for a time, with sudden wind, but back down to rolling around in little wind now, at just over 2kt. Getting near to sunset - light beginning to fade.

8:45pm Wind is clearly well up - we're making 3.5-4.5 kt - but, of course, now I don't want the increased speed! Hopefully, it's a passing big cloud and we'll slow down soon. Otherwise, when we reach a certain waypoint, we'll have to heave to so as not to make any further headway - but we're some distance away from there still.

Overnight, plenty of clear gaps between the occasional big clouds around to see the many bright stars. Wind has been fairly steady and we've been making 2-3kt on 290T - trying to parallel the course being followed by Erick so as not to have it get any closer. Didn't need to heave to overnight since WNW course kept us from making much northing.

Tuesday 8:20am Sun is already getting hot, shining from gaps in between the many clouds around. Swell is a good 3m from NE and quite close, so plenty of rolling around - especially when swell from another direction (E-ESE) combines.

Downloading latest batch of weatherfaxes and checking latest gribs.

Also getting regular text updates over the day on Erick and Flossie from Honolulu and Miami.

As of now, seems our position is fine - clearly don't want to get too close, of course, and expect Erick to pass to N of our position tomorrow. Was good to see it heading WNW instead of due W yesterday...

Will almost certainly heave to sometime today, to make sure of being well S as Erick passes by - and that will leave just Flossie to worry about...

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"QSO Today" podcast of interview with Eric, 4Z1UG, is at:

https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/VE0JS

Link to the Adelaide ABC interview about my Equator crossing is:

https://www.dropbox.com/l/scl/AABxD90n-HB3iQfK-iF5EdSDK2zXs4iF3DU

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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, 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!

(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless

they are notified in advance.)

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1900GMT (= 9 a.m. LT = Tahiti/Hawaii time) - end of Day 300. We made 64 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions.

Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 300 (by daily DMGs): 24,731 n.ml.

Distances (at 1700GMT): Cape Flattery LH: 2550 n.ml. to NNE; Honolulu: 820 n.ml. to NNW; East Cape, N.Z.: 3449 n.ml. to SW; Papeete, Tahiti: 1707 n.ml. to S

Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (using my US callsign KC2IOV):

TIME: 2019/07/30 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 10-53.32N LONGITUDE: 148-37.54W

COURSE: 290T SPEED: 2.1kt

WIND_SPEED: 12kt WIND_DIR: NE SWELL_DIR: NE SWELL_HT: 3.0m SWELL_PER: 5s

CLOUDS: 80% BARO: 1011.4hPa TREND: 1 AIR_TEMP: 32.0C SEA_TEMP: 36.0C