Position: N15deg06min/W154deg54min
Day 3 run - 133 nm
Avg Speed - 5.5 kn
Course: avg 155 T
Winds - ENE; sustained 23-26 kn most of the day and night; highest gust 31 knots; overcast skies with partial sun
Seas - NE 8', occasional 10'
Sails: we've been double reefed for over 2 days; the staysail is set, and we have a very small handkerchief of the jib out.
Discussion: It looks like we'll experience these heavier winds for the next few days until we get further south. We're pounding quite a bit on a close reach, and adjust sails to the wind speed. All's well.
April 22 - Day 3 enroute to Marquiti
Position: N17deg03min/W155deg51min
Day 2 stats:
distance: 138 nm
avg speed: 5.75 kn
avg course: 165 T
seas: 6'
wx: it's sunny now, but we had overcast skies and intermittent squalls during the night. Highest winds were 29 knots; sustained winds were 25. This afternoon it's been 18-20 knots, with occasional higher gusts. We're still looking for those NE trade winds, but the most cooperative we've had were ENE. We've had to point off a bit for comfort, as close hauled in 25 knots of wind in 6' seas isn't all that wonderful, but we're still looking to make up our easterlies whenever and wherever we can.
Day 2 stats:
distance: 138 nm
avg speed: 5.75 kn
avg course: 165 T
seas: 6'
wx: it's sunny now, but we had overcast skies and intermittent squalls during the night. Highest winds were 29 knots; sustained winds were 25. This afternoon it's been 18-20 knots, with occasional higher gusts. We're still looking for those NE trade winds, but the most cooperative we've had were ENE. We've had to point off a bit for comfort, as close hauled in 25 knots of wind in 6' seas isn't all that wonderful, but we're still looking to make up our easterlies whenever and wherever we can.
April 21 - Day 2; enroute to Marquiti
Position: N19deg09min/W156deg35min
Day 1 run: 134 nm (actually, this is a 26.5 hr run, not a noon to noon run)
Avg speed: 5.1 kn
Wx: WE've had a variety of conditions this first day out. Calms to SE winds of 20. Seas haven't been too bad, 4-6'.
Discussion: We had so many people ask us where we were going that we decided to name our fictional destination Marquiti, that is, a landfall somewhere between the Marquesas and Tahiti. On a long run like this, wind and current often play havoc with one's plans, and we decided we're not going to get beat up getting anywhere. After all, we're retired, right? So, we'll make landfall where ever the winds allow us to get to comfortably, and "Marquiti" is about the most precise answer we can give to anyone who asks, "... but where's your destination?!!"
Day 1 run: 134 nm (actually, this is a 26.5 hr run, not a noon to noon run)
Avg speed: 5.1 kn
Wx: WE've had a variety of conditions this first day out. Calms to SE winds of 20. Seas haven't been too bad, 4-6'.
Discussion: We had so many people ask us where we were going that we decided to name our fictional destination Marquiti, that is, a landfall somewhere between the Marquesas and Tahiti. On a long run like this, wind and current often play havoc with one's plans, and we decided we're not going to get beat up getting anywhere. After all, we're retired, right? So, we'll make landfall where ever the winds allow us to get to comfortably, and "Marquiti" is about the most precise answer we can give to anyone who asks, "... but where's your destination?!!"
Wed. April 20 - Day 1
Lat N20deg28min; LongW156deg43min
Speed 6.0 kn
Course 185 True
Wind SE 20 True
We departed Lahaina at 0930 (late for us!) and experienced all kinds of conditions. We started off motoring, had to double reef in 25 knots of SE wind, and enjoyed a beautiful sail in 10 knots of west wind in the lee of Kaho'Olawe before turning S again in 20 knots of SE wind. We ran the water maker earlier while motoring out of the mooring area in front of Lahaina, and all's well. Max (our Sailomat windvane) is steering and I'm on the roll call for the Pac Sea Net. We're hoping for a nice first evening underway; the weather forecasts have been looking good for the next few days.
Speed 6.0 kn
Course 185 True
Wind SE 20 True
We departed Lahaina at 0930 (late for us!) and experienced all kinds of conditions. We started off motoring, had to double reef in 25 knots of SE wind, and enjoyed a beautiful sail in 10 knots of west wind in the lee of Kaho'Olawe before turning S again in 20 knots of SE wind. We ran the water maker earlier while motoring out of the mooring area in front of Lahaina, and all's well. Max (our Sailomat windvane) is steering and I'm on the roll call for the Pac Sea Net. We're hoping for a nice first evening underway; the weather forecasts have been looking good for the next few days.
P.S. PLEASE, if you want to respond to our emails (and we always look forward to hearing from you), do NOT send our original message back to us along with your message--we receive this email via HF radio, and every extra byte counts. Attachments and pics get automatically stripped from incoming emails, so please send those to our gmail email address instead.
April 17 - Lahaina, Maui
N20deg52min/W156deg41min We departed Lono Harbor early and motor sailed in light winds and flat seas in the channels all the way to Lahaina. On the advice of our friend Sam of the HYC, we left Lanai to port, passing it on its west side, and essentially going completely around it before turning for Lahaina. In that way we were able to mitigate most of the adverse effects of the current in the channels, as well as see some beautiful scenery on the west and south sides of Lanai we hadn't seen before. We saw some whales breaching, and hooked into a large wahoo (on the south side), which Matt brought in on the hand line. About three and a half feet long, we didn't waste too much time before preparing it as part of the late afternoon meal. The anchorage here in front of Lahaina is really rolly, so we doubt we'll stay here too long before departing for French Polynesia. We have just a few things to do aboard and will also see our friends John and Melinda (sv Mycia), so if the weather looks good we'll be departing south pretty quickly.
April 16 - Honolulu to Molokai
N21deg05min/W157deg14min We've departed Honolulu! The weather window looked promising, and, although hard to believe, the reality has lived up to the advertizing! We cast off the dock lines shortly after 0700, seen off by our dear friends Richard and Lee of sv Before. We motor-sailed under sunny skies in 10 knots of SE wind. Of course, the wind was coming directly from the direction we wanted to go, but seas were flat and we anchored in Lono Harbor at 1430. The anchorage is 20' deep, and so calm in here that it's hard to remember we're actually out cruising again! It's been a wonderful first day out, shake down cruise. Tomorrow we'll awake early and depart for Lahaina. Let's hope the fishing is better than it was today...
The picture is sunset in Lono Harbor, Molokai
April 13 - Sea trials and new photo album
Things are progressing along fine. We've run the watermaker, the auto pilot, used the anchor windlass, replaced the 2nd reef line, placed a whipping on the end of the new main halyard, and a bunch of other stuff. Sue also downloaded a new Picasa album entitled "Projects, Honolulu." It's a collection of photos of some of the various projects we've done while here in Honolulu. Enjoy
(AlaWai Yacht Basin is in the foreground of the picture.)
April 11 – It won’t be long now!
We're in the final stages of preparation for departure. Provisions are being stowed, tools and spares have been put back where they belong, and we’re doing sea trials this week, going through systems and using various equipment that haven’t seen any use for six months, like the wind vane, sails, etc! The dinghy motor was started and used for about ½ hour before being stowed again. We still have a few issues to look carefully at, and will be topping off with fuel as well. We’ve also been studying the weather charts and discussions, and hope a decent window for departure occurs by this coming Saturday. Our plan is to go to Molokai, then Maui, then stage from Hilo for French Polynesia. We’ll be off internet very soon and back to our SailMail address, which also means that blog pictures will have to wait until we have an internet connection to upload. Although we enjoy receiving email, a SailMail reminder is probably warranted – please do not forward any pictures, junk mail, or forwards; SailMail will delete much of it, and our daily minutes are limited and are mostly used to download weather underway. As always, we’ll attempt to update our blog fairly regularly and let everyone know the local conditions and our progress. It usually takes a few days to get back into the groove of passage making, but we’re looking forward to getting “back on the road.” Newsflash: our responses to “The Interview With A Cruiser Project” has just been posted! You can read the entire interview at:
http://interviewwithacruiser.blogspot.com/2011/04/10-questions-for-infini.html.
Enjoy!
(The picture is the early morning view from our X Dock mooring.)
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