April 4-6

A few posts from Mark built up while Robyn was traveling back to the US, but here they are:

April 4
The first day out we took a wave into the port dorade, soaking much of my clothing and many books in the locker below. Fortunately, we didn't actually ruin that many books, mostly unimportant things. A few books got a little damp around the edges, but not ruined. I've been gradually rinsing my clothes and sheets, as I find the room to hang them. Right now, there's a sleep sack and jeans hanging from the mizzen sheet. We're at 39S 178W, close reaching in a light breeze on a mellow sea. Life is good.

April 5
We're having magnificent sailing: close reaching at 5-6 kts on a smooth sea under a sunny sky. There's a big low to the north, probably the remains of a cyclone, that's pushing a bit south that we're watching, but we don't expect it to be a problem. It may make us go a little further south, though, before turning east. So far, so good. The forecast is for northerly winds in a day or so. If the cyclone is passed to the east, we'll turn east or a little north. We seem to be catching the Roaring Forties on good terms (today).

April 6
We're almost at 42 south and 173 west, still heading ESE with a NE breeze. It's likely to remain this way for another day or so until that cyclone to the north dies away. A trough should catch up to us then with N/NW winds, at which point we'll begin to edge back NE. So far, so good. Making 125 nm or so each day, despite the headwinds. It's chilly, but not really cold. Mostly clear skies.