Conditions are a bit better today, although even with hardly any sail up we are still romping along at 6-7 knots. We are using the staysail, but only for the sheet-to-tiller self steering; all the drive is coming from the smaller jib and the reefed mizzen. We did 158 nm to noon today, and have averaged 147 nm over the past eight days. Barring something big, we should be in early on the 8th.


We've finally gotten out of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This is a zone where the trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres converge, creating high precipitation. (Check out the link at left for more info) There was never a doldrums calm -- we sailed continuously from the SE Trades into the NE Trades -- but there was a wide band of snotty weather. Squalls and rain, alternated with squalls and rain for a couple of days.

Bronson has also written some blog entries, viewable by clicking on "comments" below my posts.