[password] 5Fku_7$H
[position]23 39E, 174 48S
[weather]Wind SSE 8-11, Bar 1014.5, Sky 30% cumulus, Sea 1.5m SE swell
[speed]5.0
[heading]220T
[status]Close reaching on port tack.
Wind has eased and sea state is much more comfortable. Luckily dodged a big squall early this morning the NE. Ed observes that it's always rough over the ridge that runs in a southerly arc from Fiji to the Vanuatu chain along the north edge of the South Hebrides Trench. This has been our experience on this trip. Swells are much more orderly, longer in period and thus more comfortable now that we are south of the ridge and over the South Fiji Basin. Whether it's the benthic ridge, or just getting near the center of the high, or the latitude, I don't know. It's 27.7c in the ocean, 24c in the cabin with 74% RH. Only a very small flying fish was found on deck yesterday. Podcasts are now the go-to entertainment for all on board in seas too rough to read and on night watch. But, my goodness, those young people from America all talk so fast. All is well on board.
[END]
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.