[password]seabird14
[position] 25 04.2 S 005 50.2 E
[heading] 311T
[speed] 8.4 kts
[weather] 14-16kts SE, 1m seas SE, 1018 mb, 70% cc
[status] 852 nm to St Helena. 8.4 kts at 311T, port dead down wind, sgl reefed main plus poled out jib. An hour before sunset last night we decided to rig wing-and-wing with a poled out jib, trying to sail more directly toward St Helena. The wind has been light and backing, then veering, and then backing again. We chased the wind to maximize VMG which put us on a course passing directly over the Valdivia banks during the night hours, when we registered the seabed at 300ft below us. Light winds meant even the confused seas could not cause problems for us (thankfully!). Feeling warm and tropical we are running with the hatches open and giving the down below a bit of a freshening. We may even split a beer at lunch time to reward ourselves for the fairly tiring short-handed deck work involved with gybing wing and wing. Sophia has been busy playing chess (against herself) and we are all feeling more well rested and into the passage-making routine. Good thing, since although this morning marks the half way point, the light wind forecast means our last half of the miles will be slower.
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