Midway to Tamar

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 19 Jan 2024 01:34
Noon Position: 41 37.8 S 148 23.0 E
Course: N Speed: 4 knots
Wind: S, F1
Sea: slight Swell: S 1.5 m
Weather: cloudy, mild
Day's Run: 128 nm

Things went pretty well according to plan overnight, with the SW'ly change coming through at precisely 1540 which allowed us to start making good our desired N'ly course. The wind gradually freshened to near gale force as the night progressed, so that by 0120 we were running with three reefs in the main and a scrap of jib poled out to port. We passed Schouten Island at around 0230 and from there the wind has gradually eased so that now we are having to motor in near calm conditions.
According to the Bureau, we should still be getting 10-15 knots from the SW, then turning light and variable later this afternoon, with a moderate N'ly breeze filling in overnight. It would seem the light variables have arrived a little early.
There is very little in the way of shelter between here and the Tamar River, so at this stage the plan is simply to press on. We have 138 miles to go but with the light winds it is hard to predict an ETA. I am going to guess sometime Sunday.
All is well.