Southern Lows are Tough Business
Date: March 6, 2019
Noon Position: 47 19S 118 48W
Course: ESE 7
Wind: NW 21 – 34
Noon to Noon Miles: 155
Barometer: 997, falling
Sail: Working jib, heavily reefed.
Evening now. We’re in the heart of it, so just a quick note.
The barometer has been falling dramatically all day, from 1008mb at 2am to 995.5mb as I type. I’m hoping that’s the bottom, but I’ve been hoping that since 998mb.
Wind is *still* NW, which means that for hours now we’ve been stuck in the initial, NW phase of this low. I’m tired and wet through. A random sea struck Mo’s flank while I was in the cockpit chatting with Monte. A familiar sound. KATHWHACK! I duck but the wrong way, and great gallons of water slosh over my head and down my foulies. My last pair of dry fleece–no longer dry. One less thing to worry about.
I’ve been working the deck most of the day but can’t yet relax. The issue is Monte, or rather, the wind, which is cycling between 19 and 39. Monte feeds on apparent wind and speed through the water, and having both change so substantially within a 15 minute period is more than he’s designed to handle. I set his tiller lines one way, and we gybe loudly in the slower wind; another way and we race off, rounding up into the sea when wind increases. More sail, less sail; more tiller, less tiller–I’ve yet not found the balance.
The highly variable wind speed within lows is the most challenging environmental feature down here.
It’s starting to clear. Orion is now half above cloud. The wind howls. Back on deck.
Oh, Randall, hang on and be very careful of yourself. I hope you can get a bit of rest soon. Give Orion a wink from me, and know we all at home and safe are with you in spirit and cheering you on. BUT, take care of yourself!
I am following your travels. Stamina, is your best friend. There will be a rainbow, hopefully when you are closer to home with more docile conditions you can sail the last leg and for a few fleeting minutes you witness a rainbow. You will succeed.
In similar conditions we have found that sheeting the headsail well forward and as far outboard as possible (usually on the rail) really helps the vane gear. It also makes the boat go faster, tho’ I know that’s not always desired! With the wind on or aft of the beam the sheet leads outside the life lines. I use a change sheet if I anticipate changing course soon, otherwise I use the lazy sheet,leaving the existing sheet in its usual location. As the wind comes forward one can use both sheets to position the clew exactly where one wants it.