Day 3
2 Oct
11am
position: 23deg28.3S, 160deg47.6E
speed 3-4 knots
distance to go: 423 nautical miles
By midnight last night the wind finally went right onto our bum and dropped to about 5 knots. We dropped the sails under a full moon, having had a very good 36hr run of close to 300 miles. Since then we have been motoring, one engine at a time, doing 4 knots over ground against a 1 knot current. Yuk. The sea is moderate, but we are going very slowly, basically half the speed that we were doing before. At this pace we have at least another four 100 mile days ahead of us. But I think its going to get worse, tomorrow and the next day we expect westerly winds which is right on our nose, and will slow us down even more. Lets hope its not accompanied by a rough ocean, that will really be fun! We tried the spinnaker this morning, but there is not enough wind to keep it full.
Our 3 on 3 off watch system is working OK, Chantal and I are not too tired and we are able to cope with the kids during the day. Josh and Indie are doing fine, they are in the rhythm of the crossing. Thank god for portable dvd players.
Those earthquakes in Padang and Samoa really struck close to home. We were in Apia, western Samoa not too long ago. Trevor, maybe you can post that eyewitness account from Pago-Pago on the blog? Also the one from Padang, I wonder if our old house there is still standing? And what about Christina's hotel by the river? At least that is a very solid building, it was an old Dutch bank in a previous life. We hope everyone there is ok.
Cheers
G
