August 10, 2018 – Westward Bound 2
Just after dawn, Picton Castle 22-10S / 143-05W. Yards braced up, royals in and stowed, making good speed. Winds northerly at 18 knots, seas not so big at 6-8 feet, sky partly cloudy, low scudding clouds…
Bright seas and skies. Some spray coming over the weather rail amidships from time to time. Good idea to know where not to stand sometimes. Fishing lines trailing astern, got a mahi-mahi and a wahoo yesterday. Small wonder how the Polynesian explorers got around. Not always easterly tradewinds hereabouts. Plenty westerlies and southerlies and northerlies. Who got the idea that it always blew from the east in the South Pacific? Pretty much does blow from the east in the Atlantic/Caribbean tradewind belt but not so here. In a big sailing vaka, you could make some time in these winds making this ocean feel a lot smaller… Sailing just fine here though, at least for now. Dawson is planning his Big 6 Year Old Birthday Party. Turns out that “All are Invited”. Blue cake and presents are on the agenda.