Still Half Way
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Wed 8 Jan 2020 02:44
Noon Position: 36 15.6 S 162 35.4 E
Course: SE Speed: 5 knots
Wind: ENE, F3 gentle breeze
Sea: slight. Swell: SSW 2 m
Weather: overcast, mild
Day’s run: 92 nm sailed, 54 nm made good
Over the last few days the SE wind has pushed us further north than I was hoping for. We still need to make ground to the south so that when we get on the other side of the high pressure system we are not left with a long bash to windward. So, at midnight we tacked. However, light contrary winds and the moderate swell from the south has made for slow progress. In hindsight, I should have allowed Sylph to fall off the wind earlier in the passage. Still, for me, this is part of the pleasure of long-distance voyaging, learning about the wind and sea through the experience of sailing a small boat.
This morning the wind has freshened to 10-12 knots and backed into the east such that we are now at last heading where we would like to be going.
Kate’s poem:
Six
Sunshine and Lollipops
Mid to late afternoon
A feeling yet indistinct
That cleaning the fan
May have been optimistic
A sunny day with birds
Chirpy even and chores
able to be done
But over there, somewhere
The grey is changing hue.
The push southish to windward
albeit in light airs
forebodes in my bones
That the devil may care.
For now the aroma
is of immanent repast
and the only question
is regarding dessert.
Neither here nor there
a halfway mark
when all is quiet
and fair
enough.
….
All is well