Current Position: 16 23S / 006 54W
24 hour progress: 125nm, 5.2kts avg SOG, about 7 hours on the engine. Overall progress for the passage is 3,821nm, approximately 75nm left to go via a direct line to St Helena (but we are currently headed south while St Helena lies to the ENE).
Most of the last 24 hours have been more good progress in mostly the right direction. We were still being set almost 10deg by the current. Our current charts suggest that will finally go away later today.
We pinched up even closer to the wind. This is slower and meant our sails were super tight. It seemed to help a little, but we still couldn't quite make the desired course.
We had a period of hardly any wind yesterday. We took advantage of it and motored east. Even as the winds did come back up we motored for a little extra while - motor sailing allowed us to get a little closer to the wind than we would have been without the engine. It was still shy of the necessary course.
So with all of this "not quite enough" talk, this morning has found as tacking south. The morning search for a wind hole (i.e. an excuse to run the engine!) didn't pan out so southward we have started. We will go south until St Helena lies to the NE (plus a little bit of extra N for good measure) and then tack back to our previous course.
We will see what the day brings. This last part of the trip has been a bit frustrating, but we will get there. Just a few more challenges to go first. At this point, we anticipate an early morning Friday arrival.
Over the last week or so, we have occasionally seen jellyfish sailing on the surface. The creatures look like a clear plastic bubble above the surface with blue and pink highlights. Initially, they looked like discarded plastic packaging material. When they got closer, it became apparent that they were a jellyfish that is inflating part of their body to seemingly sail along the surface. Rather ingenious and quite beautiful.
We did fish yesterday, but didn't catch anything. Guess we will have to try our luck again on the next leg of the journey.
We are now close to St Helena, but still aren't seeing any sea life other than flying fish. Maybe today. Some dolphins or whales would be greatly welcomed.
Those pretty pink and purplish jellyfish, sounds like Portuguese Man o War. Thos sting horribly. Don't go anywhere close to them.
ReplyDeleteI was rooting hard for you to get to St. Helena today Thursday. But that's sailing for you.
Thank you for letting us follow along - it's my favorite reading.
Best Judith