S2H Day Five - Windy
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 30 Dec 2023 05:15
Course: SSE Speed: 4.5 knots
Wind: WSW F5
Sea: rough Swell: WSW 2 m
Weather: overcast, mild
Day's Run: 113 nm
The last 24 hours have been dominated by strong to near gale force west to south-west winds, which, combined with a two knot south setting current, at times caused some nasty steep breaking seas. The worst of it occurred during the morning and forenoon watches, requiring sail to be reduced to staysail and triple reefed main. While there have been a few anxious moments with much crashing of waves against Sylph's solid sides, and spray cascading heavily over the deck, including the odd wave dumping a lot of water in the cockpit, Sylph has once more taken good care of her crew.
Now the strong winds are starting to abate, we have set a bit more sail and continue to make good speed (for old Sylph) to the south; and we have turned our thoughts to our strategy for making the best of the forecast winds to get to Hobart as soon as we can. At this stage the strategy is pretty simple. The wind is forecast to shift into the south later this evening and when it does we will tack to get the best angle for Cape Pillar, our next rounding point, some 250 miles to the SSW.
ETA Hobart (with a dash of optimism): late Tuesday.
All is well.