This morning began with the wind becoming more light and soon it was blowing only 8 to 9 knots even though the forecast called for just a little bit more wind. We talked about flying a spinnaker, but decided to be patient and see if the wind would improve, especially since two times before in Polynesia we had set the spinnaker pole and lines to suddenly find the wind change such that a spinnaker was not warranted. So we joked this time that if we went through the 45 minutes required to set the equipment and fly the spinnaker it would all be for naught yet again. Four hours went by of us making only 5 knots speed and the sails flogging a bit every once in a while in the rolly left over waves. So we finally dug out the spinnaker, set the sheets and were preparing to set the spinnaker pole and then looking to the east it appeared that a squall was maybe coming. So we delayed the final tasks of flying the spinnaker for a half hour and the squall past to our south never affecting us nor giving us any more wind. We decided to go on deck and finish getting the Spinnaker up and then we noticed white caps a mile to the east, the direction of the wind. Yes, you can guess that the wind came back nicely and stayed that way the rest of the day and during sunset we finally put the spinnaker stuff away. Foiled again we were. At least being on deck provided the easy opportunity to rid the boat of all the suicidal flying fish that daily seem to initially think sailing on a boat a good idea.
At noon we determined that we had made 161 miles good towards Hawaii. We sailed a further distance during the prior 24 hours, but our wandering line of a course was only the 161 miles closer to Hawaii. At sunset we calculated that it was 640 miles further to Honolulu “as the bird flies”, and that we might not make Monday night barbecue at the Yacht Club. On the bright side of things, literally, the sun was brighter and the day was warmer and we could go without jackets at times. However, the water temperature continues to drop a bit and is presently showing 78.4 F degrees on our instruments, still a nice temp, but about 7 degrees colder than the Polynesian waters.
Lunch was chili mac and cheese and leftovers gave the same course for supper.
Banana update: Some how we have eaten over half our stalk of bananas. And to our surprise they are staying yellow longer than we predicted before getting brown spots or falling off the stalk. So maybe covering the stalk of bananas did help and/or maybe the cooler temps are helping too. So we can definitively state that your results may vary regarding the efficacy of covering a stalk of bananas. And we thus remain ahead of the curve in eating bananas before they fall to the deck with a splat. Sometimes it is worse for one may come at you like a torpedo, even a couple hits to the melon have occurred in banana days gone by. And there are also the “stealth” falling bananas that like to fall behind your back so they can squish when you sit upright again. All these and more have happened to us and we have decided that is really quite difficult to trust a banana. Yet they are tasty enough and such a ready quick snack that we choose to accept these little known risks that go beyond the difficulties of trying to wash out all the disgusting bugs that live in the stalk before bringing them on board. And with that, another day of sailing on the Pacific concludes.
Cheers,
Wade and Sara
Math Be Hard For Sailors – Hawaiian Islands
Destination: Hawaiian Islands (19°15.545’S, 154°31.747’W) Prize: Hawaiian post card from us to you and a black pearl with shell Submissions are accepted until 4/17/16.
Please only submit the date and time only, no need for your crazy calculations via ComfortCruising.com Math Be Hard For Sailors Contact Form. Weather: Sunny with a few clouds.
Ves. Pos. 14°42.213’N, 148°02.561’W
SOG: 5.1 kts
Course Over Ground (COG): 303°
Time: 12:01:51 PM 4/20/17
Nautical miles to destination as a bird flies(Crs Rng & Brg): 462 nm
Compass degree required to reach destination as a bird flies (Crs Rng & Brg): 307° Apparent wind speed (AWS): 8.6 kts
Apparent wind angle: Starboard 105°
