[Password] Bright Angel
[Position] 21 17.256S 150 42.450W
[Weather] Wind NNE 9-11 kts; Seas moderate - swell NE 2 m; cloud cover 100% with periods of rain; bar 1016 hP and falling.
[Speed] 5 kts (motoring)
[Heading] 1015T
[Status] We started motoring north in light winds last night just east of Rurutu Island, so as to avoid an encounter with the Lotus Seamount just east of the island (has some fairly shallow rocks), and kept on motoring through the night as the winds stayed light. Now, like a horse to the barn, Bright Angel (or, at least her hand steering weary crew!) prefer to keep on motoring to Tahiti, a trifle sailing wind from whatever contrary direction notwithstanding. We have the fuel, and as a good friend (who shall remain nameless, but he knows who he is!) once told me, "any ocean passage that ends with fuel in the tanks is a bad passage!" So, if all goes well, we will cover the next 240 nm to Papeete on a direct heading under power by mid-day Friday, 11 May. I think I hear that cold draft Hinano calling my name! "All is well on board."
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