Day 14 – 1,000 Miles to Go! – 11-4-24

We achieved a couple of milestones today.  First, it has been two weeks since we have left the Marquesas.  In that two weeks we have covered over 2,200 miles and averaged 6.6 knots of boat speed.  Our second milestone is getting under 1,000 miles to Newport Beach.  Now 1,000 miles is still a LOT of miles, but in comparison to the entire voyage, it is just 1/3 of the total trip.  So I guess that makes it seem better??

These final 1,000 miles will be the hardest of our passage.  The wind will be primarily against us the entire way, and it could also bring some of the highest winds we have experienced so far.  On top of that, it is starting to get cooler already.  And its just going to get colder.  A lot colder.

Still, we are all in good spirits and we are very proud of our progress.  We have had some tough spots but we are working through them as a team and learning.

Both Luke and Mateo are developing quickly in their seamanship.  I am looking to them more and more to do their own problem solving and decision making instead of me telling them what to do.  And they are rising to occasion.

In other news, we did not break anything today! So that is a win. And I got 7 hours of straight sleep last night.  Everyone onboard slept well as the seas calmed down and the boat stopped making slamming noises.  I can’t tell you what a relief that is to have quiet on the boat again!

The seas and wind stayed calmer throughout the day.  The wind has been extremely fickle, with big fluctuations in speed and direction that started last night.  In a 20 minute time span we see the wind go from 10 knots of speed to 18, then back down to 10.  The directions also oscillates as much as 30 degrees.  As a result we have to pay attention to the sails and sail trim to keep the boat moving at a good pace.  We have set up Otto, the autopilot, to sail a specific angle to the wind.  So as the wind changes in direction, Otto will change the boats heading to adjust.  This means we are not sailing in a straight line.  But it does keep the wind at an optimal angle to the boat, so the boat sails faster than if we just had Otto steer to a specific heading.

It was smooth enough that we did another movie night in the cockpit, Pirates of the Caribbean – The curse of the Black Pearl.  We went all out and made some hot chocolate as well. Mid way through the movie we were disrupted when a small rain squall came rudely upon us.  The wind went from 11 knots to 22 knots in about 60 seconds.  We all scrambled to ease the sails and furl in the jib.  The squall soon passed, but then everyone was ready for bed.  I do the first watch, so I am still up.  Its during my watch that I write this blog.

We are still in the midst of the northeast Tradewinds and sailing a mostly northerly course on starboard tack (the wind on the right side of the boat).  As we get closer to the California coast over the next few days, the wind will shift more to the northwest.  At that point we will tack onto port (left side of the boat) and start heading a more easterly course towards Southern California.  This will be our first tack on to port.  We have been on starboard since we started the passage.  It will be strange to be heeling to the opposite side!

The winds are forecasted to be lighter over the next couple of days, which will give us some relief from the 15 to 20 knot headwinds we have been experiencing.  Once we are through the light winds it is forecasted to be stronger again.  But at least we will be close to home!