Day 2
1900 local
pos: 23deg20S, 162deg10E
531 nautical miles to go
We've been hauling ass, eventually turning our first 24hrs into a 200 mile run, despite about an hour of light winds and a short half hour spell of motoring. We've been averaging a steady 8.5 knots. On the downside it has been pretty uncomfortable. You cant expect to charge across a rough ocean at close to 10 knots and expect a smooth ride. We have all been stuck to the shimmi couch, its not really possible for the boys to move around. You just got to stay on your back on or on your butt.
Otherwise we are all doing fine, the wind is clocking around to our bum now and we are loosing speed and starting to wallow. If it goes dead downwind I am going to drop sails and motor until morning, and then try a downwind run with my mortal enemy, the one and only Dr Evil von Spinnaker. So it could be a long night, watching the windex, trying to avoid a forced gybe and whatever else may happen.
This morning we were on a collision course with a massive ship going north, it eventually crossed our bow within 4 shimmi boat lengths. We waved at the crew on the ship up on their side deck, about 15 stories above us! Thank god it happened during the day. But we saw the ship coming a long way off, chatted to them on the vhf and informed them of out intention of going behind them. But it still turned out so close! And we are 2 vessels in the middle of absolutely nowhere!
Wish us luck on our second night with our little family in the middle of a lot of water!
Cheers
G