Three Hundred and Two
March 4, 2019
Day 151
Noon Position: 47 15S 126 23W
Course(t)/Speed(kts): E 7
Wind(t/tws): NW 24
Sea(t/ft): NW 6
Sky: Altostratus with drizzle
10ths Cloud Cover: 10
Bar(mb): 1003, steady
Cabin Temp(f): 61
Water Temp(f): 51
Relative Humidity(%): 80
Sail: Working jib and main, two reefs, broad reaching.
Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 129
Miles since departure: 20,701
Avg. Miles/Day: 137
Days since Cape Horn: 94
Miles since Cape Horn: 13,060
Avg. Miles/Day: 139
Longitude Degrees Made Good (degrees minutes): 3 10
Total Longitude Made Good Since Cape Horn (degrees minutes): 302 09
Avg. Long./Day: 3.21
Today’s news: since rounding Cape Horn back on November 29, 2018, Mo has transited 302 meridians of longitude. The circle is closing. A mere 58 degrees of longitude left to go. A tough 58 degrees. Lots of fast wind in the forecast. Fast wind and a very specific and required amount of southing.
But this morning, an even, unperturbed sea, and so I quickly pounded out a couple important jobs in anticipation of this week’s heavy weather. One was to refresh the downhaul lanyard on Wattsy. I decided to go back to the old lanyard design because it is easier to install (chafing through seeming to be the rule here). Just put the low friction ring through the loop and tighten into a larkshead. 
It turned out a neat little job (pictured). When installed, fail. Was too long. Remade it. When installed, fail, was still too long. Remade it. When installed … it wouldn’t install. Was too short. The ring wouldn’t fit through the loop. By this time it was mid morning. Can’t invest the whole day on this little bit of perfection. So, I gave up and went back to the old lanyard style, the one that requires I hang half way into the sea to lace it in place.
Wattsy is back on the job of pumping amps into Mo’s batteries.
Also refreshed Monte’s tiller lines and did other, now standard, heavy weather prep.
Wind has been mid twenties all day. We make a smooth 7 knots.
In the afternoon, spoke with Matt Rutherford. Our second talk. Good conversation on drogues. Fun to talk to a sailor. Actually, just fun to talk to a person who isn’t so god awful high minded as Monte.
Wind coming up now. A steady 28. Time for another reef in the working jib.
Heh, watch those denigrating comments re: Monte – he may take revenge…
After all Monte is part of the Seafarer’s Union and I just may have to head up to St. John’s to take up his grievances before he heads to the Arctic
Enjoyed the chat with Matt. Immensely respectful of what you have already achieved. Actually what you both have accomplished. All the best from New Zealand!