Slowing Down and The Longue Route

January 25, 2019

Day 113

Noon Position: 44 54S 118 10E

Course(t)/Speed(kts): ENE 6+

Wind(t/tws): WNW 25 – 30

Sea(t/ft): W 10

Sky: Low stratus (but the day has seen both rain and clear skies)

10ths Cloud Cover: 10

Bar(mb): 1004+, falling slowly

Cabin Temp(f): 61

Water Temp(f): 50

Relative Humidity(%): 61

Sail: Working jib, two reefs, broad reach on port

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 139

Miles since departure: 15,804

Avg. Miles/Day: 140

Days since Cape Horn: 56

Miles since Cape Horn: 8,170

Avg. Miles/Day: 146

Longitude Degrees Made Good (degrees minutes): 3 0

Total Longitude Made Good Since Cape Horn (degrees minutes): 185 28

Avg. Long./Day: 3.31

I’m trying to slow us down a bit, and that’s the main reason for the lower mileage these last two days.

The issue is that if we are too fast and thus get too far east, we’ll be in the heart of the third low in this series when it drops in late Sunday. By that time, we’ll have had three days of strong wind, and the forecast continues to show that low as the big kahuna of the three. So, I’d like to play it extra-cautious and just graze its western edge. To do that, I can’t let Mo charge off, as is her want.

Winds have been building all day. As I type, 35 knots, rain. So, going slowly now is a challenge, even with a double and triple reefed working jib.

So, I’m considering throwing out the Shark Drogue (for the first time) when we’ve made our northing; the target is currently 44S, which we should pass by tomorrow noon.

Buttoning up and battening down today. The main is lashed to the boom. The leeward jib sheet is moved over and run through blocks nearer the bow (this allows me to switch sheets as I reef small without going forward); I’ve cut the chafe from Monte’s tiller line and the jib sheet; the poles are stowed; the lines wrapped so they don’t bang the mast; bilges are pumped; floor-boards locked.

We’re almost ready.

A friend shared a screen shot of the Longue Route Race Tracker last week (http://longueroute2018.com). This is the French (Moitessier) version of the English Golden Globe (Knox-Johnson) Race currently nearing its completion (well, completion for some). The tracker is interesting because it shows all the boats in the south this summer, not just those of its race. Mo is even there, and is the furthest south by far. I’m flabbergasted by the number of boats in this ocean this year.