Day 5
May 30, 2024
We are sailing on the edge of a high pressure system. On my morning watch, we shook all reefs and hoisted the staysail. Beam reaching under full mainsail, Yankee, and staysail, FALKEN was cruising along at 9, 10, sometimes 11 knots. In the late afternoon, the wind veered to a southwesterly Force 4 to 5, and we dropped the staysail, eased the sheets, and continued on a broad reach. It has been very pleasant sailing all day, and we crossed our halfway mark to Horta today—950 nm to go.
It looks like we found some favorable current as well, as our speed through the water is constantly about 1.5 knots slower than our SOG (speed over ground). As darkness fell, the wind veered further and it was time to set the pole, bring the Yankee to windward, and we are now sailing wing on wing. We might have to gybe in the early morning hours to maintain our course, but for now all is set.
The next few days will be interesting as we transition from the high pressure system into a low pressure with very light and shifty winds, plus rain and squalls in between.
Fair winds and a following sea,
Chris
We are sailing on the edge of a high pressure system. On my morning watch, we shook all reefs and hoisted the staysail. Beam reaching under full mainsail, Yankee, and staysail, FALKEN was cruising along at 9, 10, sometimes 11 knots. In the late afternoon, the wind veered to a southwesterly Force 4 to 5, and we dropped the staysail, eased the sheets, and continued on a broad reach. It has been very pleasant sailing all day, and we crossed our halfway mark to Horta today—950 nm to go.
It looks like we found some favorable current as well, as our speed through the water is constantly about 1.5 knots slower than our SOG (speed over ground). As darkness fell, the wind veered further and it was time to set the pole, bring the Yankee to windward, and we are now sailing wing on wing. We might have to gybe in the early morning hours to maintain our course, but for now all is set.
The next few days will be interesting as we transition from the high pressure system into a low pressure with very light and shifty winds, plus rain and squalls in between.
Fair winds and a following sea,
Chris
View more passage logs
Between Passages
After some nice rest and time to explore the Galapagos, it's now time to welcome a new crew to FALKEN and start a new adventure!
Galapablog
You’d think this crew bonding is borne on the back of shared mild discomfort - life’s steadfast instructor. But we have all of the mod cons - showers 2 - 3 times a day*, ice in our drinks **, great food (without fail!).
Life of luxury
Today started with a Blue-Footed Booby on the bow amongst his Red-Footed, Nazca, and Brown Booby friends.