Happy Friday Y’all.
Been another good day at sea. Everyone got long naps and rested well. A comfortable course, enough boat speed to be moving the right direction and a course that didn’t bounce over the waves. Peaceful day.
Breakfast was a hearty American bacon/potatoes and eggs. Which is probably why all the naps were taken. The temperature is dropping, Christine saw 65 degrees F on her night watch. During the day when the sun is out, is still shorts and t-shirt as long as there is some protection from the wind. Sitting in the shade and wind is a bit on the crisp side.
If the weather holds on as predicted, on Saturday we will be taking the left turn and head directly to Antofagasta, Chile and the miles to destination should start dropping much faster than our current disheartening rate. We have traveled over 1200 miles since leaving the Galapagos, but only made 500 miles closer to the destination. Its like all the one way streets go the wrong direction, or you get on the freeway and have to drive to the next town to find a U-turn – it works but its out of your way.
Started with 1765 miles till the destination, 1200 miles to go if only we were a crow.
At 12/21/2018 @ 6:55 AM Our position: 16°07.36’S, 090°10.94’W Traveling 5.7 heading 203T
Google says we are here www.google.com/maps/place/-16.12267,-90.18233

Found a comfortable groove between the waves, squalls and wind direction. Making some distance heading southbound just before our lunch time.
Cheers, all good on board.
At 12/20/2018 @ 6:05 PM Our position: 14°42.27’S, 090°10.34’W Traveling 8.1 heading 167T
Google says we are here www.google.com/maps/place/-14.70450,-90.17233

Trucking along, just not a very direct route. Something like 300 more miles south before we can hang a left turn at the big red dot in the water. Hopefully then we will be making more miles toward the destination faster.
Tomorrow morning completes 1 week on this journey and we have at least 1 more week to go. So far all is good, managing water/electricity/fuel and food. Still have plenty of all items. Our inverter/charger did give up on us tho, not sure whats up, but it simply means we can not use any 110v house hold items. Like the luxury “rice cooker” and fast wall charger for the computers. Oh well, we have other ways to make rice and charge the computers.
The last day or so has been filled with squalls, this night alone 1/2 a dozen. The previous night we had put in the first reef in the main, as winds were sticking near 20knots. This evening we dodged some winds and light rains, but after the 3rd one with 27knots of wind it was time to relax and put in the second reef. Shortening the sail, now allows us to be comfortable in up to 30 knots of wind and only making slightly less speed in the lulls between dark clouds (thats all we can see at night)
Finally made some descent hamburger buns on board, hope that we can repeat them. Fluffy and nice, not thick and dense as the previous attempts. Is it the pacific? or just better luck this time. Will know after trying to repeat the effort.
All good, time to get some rest – tomorrow will be another day and with the winds on one forecast to increase, we are already ready for that. If not, we will “shake” a reef out, and keep on keeping on.
Happy Friday..
Started with 1765 miles till the destination, 1259 miles to go if we were a crow.
On 12/20/2018 @ 9:37 AM Our position: 13°52.34’S, 090°11.14’W Traveling 6.3 heading 188T
Google says we are here www.google.com/maps/place/-13.87233,-90.18567
At 12/20/2018 @ 9:37 AM Our position: 13°52.34’S, 090°11.14’W Traveling 6.3 heading 188T
Google says we are here www.google.com/maps/place/-13.87233,-90.18567