Define Trade Winds

Day 19
Noon Position: 6 28.43N 123 48.66W

Course/Speed: SW 4 – 5

Wind: SE 10 – 16

Sail: Double reefed #2; single reefed main

Bar: 1015

Sea: SE lumpy stuff to 5 feet

Sky: Overcast. Squally.

Cabin Temp: 86

Water Temp: 82 
Miles last 24-hours: 99

Miles since departure: 2292

Define trade winds. Here’s my definition based on the last day plus… 

Sustained winds (sustained equals 30 minutes to several hours) of 10 knots, 0 knots, 16 knots, 21 knots, 5 knots, 7 knots, 12 knots…etc. All from the south and southeast.

It’s not the fault of the trade winds. It’s that we’re under a massive, spread-out squall complex. I have no idea what else to call it. Most of the sky is overcast, just a flat deck of gray, but in any direction, one can see rain columns (indicators of thunderheads). At their leading edge, winds increase, inside, winds decrease. In between is anyone’s guess. This morning we were becalmed for two hours in perfectly clear conditions, except that on each side of us were these squall heads eating up the air. 

And poor Mo is pounding. How such little wind can kick up such a chop is beyond me, but water is flying everywhere.

It makes for a busy time on deck when one is trying to climb in conditions like this. Reef in. Reef out. Adjust sheets. Twig Monte to pull a little this way or that. 

Not much sleep last two nights due to such frequent wind changes. Or night before.

On the plus side, there is wind, and we are making steady, if slow, progress southwest. 

I spent time today recalculating the route to the Horn based on current weather/wind trends. Of course, things will change as we descend, but if the South Pacific high provides a lane of wind in its western quadrant similar to what I see now, Mo and I have 5,000 miles to the Horn. Could be there by Christmas.

It’s sobering to think on it.