April 25 - Day 6; it's settling down just a bit

position: N11deg49min/W152deg32min
day 5 run - 123 nm
avg speed - 5.1 kn
wind - E 18-20 T
seas - E 8'
course - 155 T
The wind finally fell below 20 this morning; what a welcome relief. Some, but not all, of the pounding has moderated, but we're still hard on the wind, beating/close hauled. We've put a bit more jib out, and are heeled 10-15 degrees on a port tack. The staysail and 2nd reef in the main remain. We tried to tack earlier in the morning, but the strong Equatorial Current laughed at us, and our final course was like 10-20 degrees, so we tacked back to port and wonder when we'll be able to make better easting, probably in the doldrums when we motor! So, on it goes. We're eating well, getting plenty of rest, the fishing line went back out today (couldn't imagine fishing in the conditions we've been thru this last week, yet alone catching anything and trying to land it to deck...)and all's well.