Yesterday we poured in the fuel tank our last 12 gallons of diesel that we allowed ourselves for the passage, keeping 2 jerry jugs of reserve fuel for maneuvering around anchorages and the leeward side of Tahuata. The forecast predicted the tapering of wind down to six knots yesterday and remaining the same through the night. Fortunately for us the winds do not always listen to “forecasters” and instead increased to about 14 knots apparent and we were able to sail at a fast speed until midnight. However, the passing of a midnight squall left a wake of no wind and the wind did not seem to want to return this time. We had sailed faster and longer than expected, we now found ourselves in a favorable situation of probably having enough fuel to motor-sail to Fatu Hiva and also arrive before dark on Monday.
Marquesas anchorages are not like the atoll anchorages we’ve been anchoring in since leaving Hawaii. If you remember atoll anchorages require us to transit the pass into the atoll around noon because of tide and visibility. The Marquesas anchorages are similar to anchoring in Waikiki or Pokai Bay Hawaii, as they are somewhat open to the ocean. Getting in and out of an open anchorage is an advantage to our arrival, so even if we have only an hour of day light left, we’ll find a place to drop the hook. The downside to an open anchorage is if the wind direction switches from east to west we will need to move to a more protected location. Depending on the anchorage we might move if the wind becomes more northerly or southerly because the swell can wrap around the point of the anchorage causing a very uncomfortable rolling motion.
With a squall almost every hour during “watch”, we single-hand taking the sails in and out so the other can sleep, but who can remain asleep with all of that racket. Sails flapping and lines slapping while winches are grinding. Therefore we find ourselves a bit more tired during this sail. This morning has been smooth and so far squall free.
Update from the second we typed that last sentence a half hour before noon. Three squalls decided to appear and the boat sped up to 8 knots when we saw the hand line reels were bouncing frantically. We slowed the boat engine, but kept the sails up. Sara held one of the hand line reels while Wade grabbed his gloves and put the aft life line gate down. He kept pulling the fish in steadily as Sara grabbed the other hand line reel. The lines crossed so Sara moved her fish out of the way. As the fish was about twenty feet from the boat we saw smoothing chasing the Wade’s fish. A shark bit the tail off the little yellow fin tuna and moments afterward the fish was on the boat, Sara’s fish was gone. Surprisingly the squalls caused us to heel a bit but we didn’t notice with all of the excitement. We are super happy and it looks like sushi for dinner.
Cheers,
Wade and Sara
Hint: Sara took the watch at 3 am with 85 miles to go and at 8 am we had 50 miles to go.
Math Be Hard For Sailors – Fatu Hiva UPDATE
Destination: Fatu Hiva (10° 30.721’S, 138° 41.532’W)
Prize: Marqueses post card from us to you
Submissions are accepted until arrival.
Please only submit the date and time only, no need for your crazy calculations via Math Be Hard For Sailors Entry and Update Form.
- Weather: Sunny and about a squall an hour.
- Ves. Pos. 10° 53.279’S, 138° 43.311’W
- SOG: 7 kts
- Heading: 19°
- Course Over Ground (COG): 8°
- Time: 12:00:01 PM 2/27/17
- Nautical miles to destination (Crs Rng & Brg): 22.6 nm
- Compass degree required to reach destination (Crs Rng & Brg): 4°
- Apparent wind speed (AWS): 9.2 kts
- Apparent wind angle: 54°
Math Be Hard For Sailors Game details click here and good luck.
