March 3-12, 2012
Here it is: the day of departure for the Galapagos: 875 nm. We woke up to a beautiful clear day with light winds out of the North. We got underway at 0915 hrs and set the Main and Jib. Could have used a little more wind but "Solstice" was still sailing along at 4.0 kts. By noontime we were becalmed but the wind picked up again at 1445 and we sailed along all through the night with a N´ly wind at 10-12 kts and higher gusts averaging 6.0 kts.
March 4th, 2012
Still sailing along with light N´ly winds and 3-4´seas. Our noon position indicated that we we had made good 112 nm at 4.7 kts average speed; DTG 0 763 nm. At 1800 hrs the wind died so we dropped the sails and let the current carry us along throughout the night. Surprisingly enough there was a 1.7 kt current carrying us along the course line. During the night a school of Dolphins dropped by to say "Hi". Starry skies, no wind and the sounds of Mother Ocean: being becalmed has its rewards.
March 5, 2012
Wind came up at 0345 this morning out of the NW at 20 kts and gusty. We set the jib and sailed along at 6.0 kts. I don´t like to work the deck at night unless it is absolutely necessary. It isn´t so bad with smaller seas but requires being tethered up and holding on while setting the Mainsail. By 0600 hrs the wind had veered into the NNE at 15 kts and it was daylight so we set the Mainsail and were sailing at 6.0 kts. Our noon position indicated that from noon yesterday until noon today DMG = 78 nm, DTG = 676 nm. By 1948 hrs we were becalmed once again. The current has increased in strength and is carrying us along at 2.7 kts and setting down at 204 degrees. It is strong enough to allow the autopilot to helm the yacht with all sails droped and not a whisper of wind. I have never witnessed an autopilot helming a vessel 10.5 hrs with nothing but current. A little more sea this evening so we are rolling around a little more but it is quite bearable.
March 6, 2012
At 0700 hrs the wind came back to visit us so we got underway with Main & Jib. Noon position calculates that DMG (noon-noon) = 87 nm, DTG = 589 nm. The day brings only very light winds out of the ENE and then veers briefly into the SE quadrant at Beaufort 2-3 (7-10 kts). This doesn´t last very long and we are becalmed once again at 1800 hrs. The current is still favorable and carries us along at 1.5 kts.
March 7, 2012
At 0030 hrs a fresh wind from the ESE springs up with some huff to it at 15 kts. We set the Jib and sail along at 5.8 kts. This wind backs into the ENE and freshens to 20 kts. We carry a reefed mainsail and jib. Noon position calculates that DMG = 103 nm at 4.3 ktsñ DTG = 486 nm. This ENE wind holds throughout the day and we sail along at 5.0 kts.
March 8, 2012
With the increase in wind comes an increase of seas which are now running 8´ with a few higher swells. At 0800 hrs we double reef the Mainsail and roll in a little Jib. I´m being cautious here but I am learning that the Valiant can carry full Main and Jib in 20 kts winds and make 8 kts. I prefer to carry less sail and not worry about strong gusty winds.
I make a tactical error in not running ¨Wing and Wing¨ (Mainsail set to leeward and Jib poled out to windward). This would have given me a downwind course to our destination. Instead, I remain on a broad reach with the wind just off the port quarter and end up having to tack. The seas have gotten big enough that I don´t want to work on the foredeck with a spinnaker pole and rigging it up: Big mistake which will add another 100 miles to the trip and an extra day. This won´t happen again! Noon position shows we have DMG = 96 nm at 4.0 kts; DTG = 390 nm.
March 9-11
Because I am not running "Wing and Wing" I continue to lose ground by not running directly downwind as I should be doing. I doggedly hang onto the jib and continue on a broad reach with an occasional tack to reach our destination. On March 11 I make one long tack up to the WNW throughout the night and in the morning the wind veers a little more into the East. At last this allows me to follow the course line to San Cristobal island. The result of all this is that we arrive too late in the evening to go into port. So we spend the night stemming the current 6 nm off Baquerizo Moreno.
I drop all sails and start the motor. To my surprise I can only get 1 kt out of the engine at 3/4 speed. At first I believe there are barnacles on the propeller but I had the hull and propeller cleaned before we left Las Playitas. What to do? I bring the engine up to full speed and manage 1.7 kts. This is becoming surreal! Finally, I decide to take it through a full circle turn. The minute I come 90 degrees away from the current the speed picks up and downwind runs to 8 kts. There is one strong current running parallel to the island at 4+ kts. We continue motoring and lying ahull throughout the night.
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