Alcedo of Ryme - Blog 29. At sea but only 130 nm to go. 10.04.42S 136.48.45W

Thursday, 17 March. A day of good and bad, with sails still goose-winged and sometimes enough wind and sometimes not. All having to concentrate like mad to hold our course and keep the boat going. Then we had the first really significant squall just as Anthony's risotto was about to be served. Up to 29 knots with the Ship's Boy enjoying a white knuckle ride in drenching rain and the rest of us on standby to reef the main as soon as conditions allowed. Spirit had warned us of squalls lasting up to an hour on the approach to Hiva Oa, but this was the first one we experienced that brought significant wind. Needless to say, a reef was put in the main ASAP and we agreed to double up on the watches so one person could watch for squalls and be prepared to roll up the Genoa as needed while the other steered. Regrettably and predictably, the wind in the squalls was not from a friendly direction and we ended the night 20 miles further south than we would have liked.

Friday, 18 March. Today started with depressingly little wind, so little in fact that we motored for a short while. Murphy's Law has worked overtime all day, so engine on, wind increased, engine off, wind decreased until the squalls started again. Ship's Boy was on the helm for the first one and, quite rightly, suggested we would be better off with twin headsails so we did not all spend the night watches in a panic about gybing when the wind got up in the squalls. So 2 hours and one squall later, we had the twin running sails up and were enjoying 10 knots of boat speed on course for Hiva Oa and with 100 nm to go. The Garmin has produced an arrival time and now we are worried about arriving in the dark, so are hoping the wind will drop again. Like all sailors and farmers, we are never happy with weather.

We are all keeping our fingers crossed for Aldon Horse Trials this weekend and hoping for good weather and happy punters.

As I post this we have 79.1 miles to go so expect to arrive with the dawn.

Alcedo