Decision Made

March 19, 2019

Day 166

Noon Position: 56 11S  72 34W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): ESE 7

Wind(t/tws): NWxW 17 – 25

Sea(t/ft): NW 8

Sky: Overcast

10ths Cloud Cover: 10

Bar(mb): 1008+, falling slowly

Cabin Temp(f): 50

Water Temp(f): 45

Relative Humidity(%): 88

Sail: Twins poled out

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 162

Miles since departure: 22,805

Avg. Miles/Day: 137

Days since Cape Horn: 109

Miles since Cape Horn: 15,165

Avg. Miles/Day: 139

Longitude Degrees Made Good (degrees minutes): 4 44

Total Longitude Made Good Since Cape Horn (degrees minutes): 357 02

Avg. Long./Day: 3.28

We rode the twins for almost twenty-four hours in fast following winds and on which Mo has turned in her best mileage in a couple weeks. I’m pleased that it appears the approach to the Horn will go out with a bang, not a whimper.

The low is close now; winds are intensifying and pulling north. Just after the noon post, the anemometer struck 30 knots at almost NW. So, down came the poles, and we race onward under the working jib alone.

Above is a low, featureless and dark sky that gives one the impression of perpetual evening. Going to be a dark night and a long watch for Randall.

I’ve decided to go north of Diego Ramirez.

This may sound strange given the post of a few days ago, which declared it prudent to go south about in strong wind, but the high winds of 35 forecast for tonight are only due to last a few hours, and currently the sea running is not all that large.

A north about saves us as much as 50 miles and gives the opportunity to see the Horn one last time.

There is risk, but the reward is an ample one. At least it seems that way at the moment.

Now our course is due east. At our current rate of speed, we should be over the shallow water of the continental shelf by dawn.