[password] Go1ngs@iling
[position] 38 07.0S 159 45.0E
[weather] W's 19 NNE Baro 1016
[speed] 4.9 Knts
[heading] 105 T
[status] Position as of 1800 Hrs NZ Time. I downloaded Gribs when I filed my YIT report yesterday. It was apparent (subsequently confirmed by a weather update from Bob McDavit) that I was going to get winds of this strength and this direction for several more days. I had been sailing with reefed main, my staysail and a partially rolled Genoa which we all know is too full....I was hoping it would work well enough to leave but I was just procrastinating. I made the decision to change to a working jib while I still had daylight - not an easy job with 20 kts of wind and 2.5M seas. Short story is I got the job done. Man...what an ugly sail it is...it only gets put up about 5% of the time when I get headed on passage and it's covered in rust stains from being put away wet next to the spare anchor; but it's built flat and strong which is what I needed. Once I got everything set up the boat was sitting up more and pointing higher and the helm is perfectly balanced. At about five knots the progress is OK but slow enough to minimize slamming. In the last 22 hours I haven't had to adjust the Monitor windvane or adjust jib or main trim....Katie just keeps jogging along. All's well on board.
PS ....had some trouble connecting tonight. The propagation models suggest later may be better...will try again in a couple of hours.

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