DAY 19 HALF WAY

DAY 19 HALF WAY only 140 nautical miles to go

 

POSITION     08D57.000s 136D157.000w

 

Once again we had really good winds allowing us to make excellent progress.  We are pointing a little north of our destination but as the winds come around more onto the east we should be able to achieve our goal or reaching landfall tomorrow morning.  The swell continued to increase in size throughout the day.  By late afternoon it was really quite uncomfortable.  Ian was stood on the back deck and at stages it was towering above him.  It usually crashed onto the transom before disappearing underneath in a wall of white foam.  Faraway would wobble from side to side as if being sucked into the foam that completely surrounded her, before gaining momentum and freeing herself in preperation for the next one.  The swell has reduced slightly overnight but is still large enough to throw us off course occasionally. 

 

We have had days of squalls and overcast conditions.  The swell has been more from the south than expected. It has been very different to our expectations.  We are lucky to be in a heavy boat as we easily ride out the extreme gusts etc..it will be interesting to talk to our friends this week-some are doing this trip for 2nd/3rd time.  They will confirm if the conditions are unusual this year,

 

The big event today-we have passed the half way point between our departure point in St Martin and our destination in Brisbane Australia.  We have sailed nearly 5000 nautical miles-not bad for 2 day skipper ratings.  Our biggest hurdles were getting used to night crossings, getting through the Panama Canal and the long journey between Galapagos/Marquesa's.  If all goes according to plan the final half of our journey will be Island (country hopping).  Some crossings will still taker up to 1 week.  We plan to sail to the Marquesa's (Other areas in French Polynesia-Bora Bora etc...)-Cook Islands-Tonga-Fiji-New Caledonia-Brisbane.

 

We are now on the final leg of this journey.  At our current rate of progress we will arrive 20 nautical miles from Hiva Oa at sunrise.  That will give us 4-5 hours to sit back relax and watch as our destination appears in sight.  If we make these times then we will have completed the passage in 20 days.  So far we have had no damage, wear and tear or other issues with equipment on the exterior of Faraway-lets hope it continues.

 

The cylinder end cap on the watermaker pump continues to leak.  When we get to a calm anchorage Ian will try to repair it otherwise we will have to go to Tahiti and get it repaired under warranty.  This will be a set back as Tahiti is expensive, has crime and will delay our plans for ???days.

 

We do not feel sad about approaching landfall as some cruisers do.  Perhaps we will feel different in the morning when we can see Hiva Oa.

 

0 Fish