What might have been.

[patience]

Pleasure Palace-what a badge of honor! We normally enjoy ice cream on board, although the freezer draws too much power so it will be soft serve in order to keep the pilot going. I'll save some if you want to meet up when things calm down. You can find me on the rhumb line for now, as I've got my hands full fixing things, throwing up, and trying not to crap my pants. Time limit may be an issue once we get out of the hell-storm we're currently in.

I don't have many external pictures of the boat sailing. The first one is quite old, that is my better half driving. The boom on the staysail is gone now. The second one is from May, and is me tacking out of Neah Bay on a singlehanded adventure. As mentioned, we're not fast!

Tim

 

[WBChristie]

Run whatya brung! Will we see you in the SHTP next year?

Hahahaha, right? Cape George 38. She's not a racer, but she's what I've got;-)

 

[sleddog]

X+3 6/30/20 Noon Position 33-15 N x 130-45. 24 hour run 165 miles @221m (234t). Speed average = 6.8 knots. Current wind NNE@16-19 with 5-8' seas. 75% overcast. Baro=1021 mb.

As WILDFLOWER enters the SE lobe (ridge) of the Pacific High, the wind has become puffy and shifty. Puffs are headers and can be seen as a darkening on the water. A puff might last 5-15 minutes with wind direction from the N. After the puff comes a lift as the wind lightens by 3-5 knots and veers to the NNE. This is fertile area for hand steering, or having the windvane drive. Autopilot steering a compass course would be slow, as half the time the sails would be either over trimmed or under trimmed if not staying attentive at the sheets.

With apparent wind (AWA) averaging 110 degrees aft the bow, yesterday afternoon at 1500 I set the spinny. With the pole near the headstay I used a reaching strut on the guy. It was full on hand steering and trimming, with only brief breaks while the AP steered during a lull. The spinnaker gave us an extra knot of speed, and we could steer lower. Left hand on the tiller, butt in the bean bag, and right hand ready to sway or surge the spinny sheet.

Hand steering can be a chore after a few hours, even when comfortably seated. After 4 hours, about 1900 hours, I was ready for a break and some food, even if it meant giving up some speed. I had the twins ready to hoist on the headstay, the 125% JT to leeward and the 117% #2 to windward, hanks staggered.

I bore off to a broad reach,started the spinnaker guy and tended the sheet while dumping the halyard with one wrap remaining on the halyard winch for friction. This was a maneuver I'd done many times and the spinnaker came aboard cleanly under the boom and down the companionway hatch.

I then went forward and put the windward jib sheet in the pole and hoisted both jibs as one. I squared the pole for an AWA of about 130, and we were off again, the windward twin feeding air leech first across the sail and into the leeward jib. The windvane steering likes this rig and there's no windshift or puff it can't handle. The tradeoff was about .25 knot of speed loss from the spinnaker, something I could accept, especially with a dark night coming on. Handsteering in these conditions with a cloudy sky at night and no stars and half moon that would set about midnight can be especially tedious, and I was happy I had this well mannered "go to" rig that would let me get some dinner, rest, and catch up on office work (log entries, charting, weather files, etc..)

This is begiining of day 3, and weather is definitely not tropical ....grey with occasional mist. Here's a bird's eye view from 22,000 miles overhead from the GOES West satellite. We won't begin to see tradewind popcorn clouds and consistent sun until south of 30, west of 140.



Sail ho! 0945 this morning. Abeam and about 4 miles abeam to windward, bearing 342. Looks like a red and white spinnaker. I don't see anyone on AIS, nor do I have a handy list of competitor spinnaker colors, so your guess is as good as mine. SHARK on BLUE GRASS? SEA WISDOM? HULA?

I reset my spinnaker about an hour ago, 1100, giving the AP a chance to show it's stuff. The Autohelm 2000 tillerpilot works in true windspeeds up to about 16 knots, so its definitely at its upper limit. But WF has a full length skeg in front of the rudder, and tracks well. Now the boat is more level, it is increasing difficult to hang over the windward rail to "check the blades." I purposely steer high and temporarily over trim the spinny to get enough heel angle to see the underhull appendages. If we've caught something, I quickly drop the spinny, put the boat head to wind with the preventer holding the boom out, and attempt to back down. Usually works, except the "back down" part. Dead in the water is usually the best I can do.

Sailing the 2003 Transpac with Stan and Sally on Cal-40 ILLUSION we snagged something substantial on the rudder, went head to wind and backed down. Didn't work, and Stan peeled to his shorts and dove overboard to clean the rudder. We had him back aboard in less than 30 seconds.

Tim's Cape George 38 PATIENCE has a full keel and therefore much less a problem catching Pacific Gyre ropes, nets, and plastic. Fin keels, exposed props, and spade rudders often catch something obnoxious at least once during a passage to Hawaii. But if you don't look, it isn't there.... WILDFLOWER has a underwater window, but it's position means I can only see the back half of the keel and prop. Better than nothing and works at night with a flashlite.

Noon posits, Day 0-Day 3


If you haven't seen this 2 minute video of a just completed, 48 day voyage into the Pacific High, it's an eye-opener. Many of you know Mary C. and we congratulate her and the crew of KWAI.

https://www.oceanvoyagesinstitute.org/news-and-updates/

 

[patience]

WBChristie sorry for the delay! I had to clean up the huge mess that got created on the Windy Reach. It was a bit crazy and there was crap everywhere, but I made it. I think I'm too far north on the course, but I think I'm more or less committed now.

I would love to do this race! It's probably not realistic for me to get my qualifier done and boat ready for next year. Probably the one after that.

Tim

 

[sleddog]

Since last log entry, we ran yesterday afternoon under spinnaker, pole squared about 2' off headstay, in 15-16 knots of NE wind. Excellent sailing at mostly 6.5 - 7 knots, as the seas have smoothed to 4-6 feet and, glory bee, some glimpses of the sun's rays poking through.

The moon is now over half full, and high in the sky at sundown..with moonlight filtering through the cloud deck making night sailing less like navigating the inside of a cow. With these conditions I was in less hurry to rig for night sailing and kept the spinnaker up until 2100 PDST (We will keep the ship's clock on PDST even as we advance westward towards Hanalei, which uses HST, -3 hours UTC.

At 2100 I'd changed out the #2, 6oz. dacron, 117% jib which was hanked to starboard on the headstay for the Dave Hodges built, 125%, 2.2 oz ripstop nylon JT, the only new sail I'd bought for the 2008 SHTP. This lighter sail has a shoulder high clew and a large amount of foot roach. And between it's hanks are small grommets so I can yarn the sail and hoist in stops even though it is hanked on the headstay opposite it's twin, the .86 poly JT built by my brother in 1996.

At 2115 I dropped the spinnaker, then, before hoisting, wung out the twin jibs mentioned above on their dedicated whisker poles, one being a converted windsurfer mast, the other a telescoping twist lock aluminum pole I had pinned with a bolt as I don't trust twist locks.

Hoisting the twins with their staggered hanks was easy, and off we went under wind vane steering after about a 10 minute "pit stop" where the speed had dropped to 3.5 under main alone. Ideal AWA was now 150, starboard pole slightly forward of the port pole, trimmed more aft. The cool thing about this sail combination is the combined sail area equals or exceeds the spinnaker, and you never have to worry about a spinnaker collapse or wrap. The worst that can happen is the windward twin might go aback for a few seconds. And then refill, indicating its pole is slightly over squared. Sure, I'd love to have GREEN BUFFALO's AP that will drive with the spinnaker up in most conditions while the skipper naps. But that takes instrumentation, electricity, and equipment I don't have.

 

[sleddog]

Day 4 7/1/20 Noon Position 31-44 N x 133-25 W. 24 hour run 167 miles @220m (234t). Speed average = 6.9 knots. Current wind NNE @14-16 knots with 4-6' seas. 75% overcast. Baro=1022 mb.

Running under twins, genoa staysail tacked to windward rail, and full main on broad reach. The red and white spinnaker I briefly saw yesterday has reappeared 4-5 miles to windward, hull down, bearing 330m. As well, a southbound container ship, MSC HANSUN, passed astern earlier, likely headed Asia to Panama. I briefly tried giving both the ship, and the red and white spinnaker a call on VHF 16, but no reply. The ship shows up handsomely on radar at 8 miles. The sloop intermittently. I rarely turn the radar on, only at night in squall country, or if on apparent collision course with oncoming traffic. I know WILDFLOWER shows up on ship's radar in smooth seas at 12 miles as once reported by Captain Bob, on the Matson SS KAUAI. We carry a masthead radar reflector, for whatever that is worth. Probably not much. At night, when not on deck, I run an amber strobe on a removable pole on the transom, which nicely lights up the main and other white sails.

HEDGEHOG, the Olson 29, is out here somewhere, running in stealth mode. I suspect David is 100 or more miles ahead in the van. Maybe he will give us a shout. Or not. My reference to using HEDGEHOG as a "weather probe" may have silenced his position reporting.

Here's tomorrow noon's GFS GRIB file. We are aiming at theoretical "Pt. B", 28N x 140W

 

[AntsUiga]

What are you using for a barometer and how was it calibrated? Recording version or spot readings?

The electronic gear on the boat is minimal so I am curious.

Thanks.

Ants

 

[sleddog]

What are you using for a barometer and how was it calibrated? Recording version or spot readings? The electronic gear on the boat is minimal so I am curious. Thanks. Ants

Hi Ants,
Thank you for the question regarding WILDFLOWER's barometer. We use a Speedtech recording electronic barometer that hangs on the main bulkhead. It powers on 4xAAA batteries, which last about 2 years. The unit is about 20 years old, and I doubt is still made. I check it regularly with the nearest airport pressure, and it is ivariably accurate. It also reads temperature and humidity. The Speedtech measures 4″ x 5″ x 3/4″, and weighs 4 oz. It has a pair of switches in the back to select metric or English units; It also has on the face four push-buttons to adjust for altitude and to recall all readings made over the past 24 hours. It once sold for $99. A glance at the display presents a clear picture of pressure trends over the past day. All readings over the past 24 hours are stored, so the display can be turned back an hour at a time to see what has happened.

The only thing bogus about this barometer is it shows a sun, a sun with clouds, or clouds with rain..I've taped over that part of the display as you can see in the below photo.

Before the 2020 SHTP start I checked it's calibration with Oakland Airport.

I have no experience with barometer watches. I could ask Stan Honey if you wish.

 

[sleddog]

Day 5 7/2/20 Noon Position 30-15 N x 135-59 W. 24 hour run 156 miles @220m (234t). Speed average = 6.5 knots. Current wind NE @13-15 knots with 3-5' seas. 50% cloud. Baro=1022 mb.

I have been asked how to tell where the SE lobe or ridge or the Pacific High lies. Best way is to look at a pressure map of the Pacific featuring lines of equal air pressure called "isobars." On the 24 hour surface analysis forecast below, where the isobars have the greatest bend SE of the Pacific High, lies the ridge. If you connect a line from the "H" through the bends at each isobar to the "L", that line would be the ridge, an area of lighter wind each side of the ridge where the coastal northerlies of the Windy Reach shift to the NE tradewinds. Usually it is best to cross the ridge at right angles.



As the wind and seas slowly diminish, we changed from the twins back to the spinny this morning at dawn. Though the twin jibs don't require hand steering like the spinnaker, the spinnaker gives .25-.50 knot better speed. It just needs more attention.

This morning an hour before sunrise, dead astern, rose one of the patron stars of this and past SHTP's: the planet Venus. Venus is so bright, it is easy to mistake for the masthead light of a nearby, overtaking ship. Just ask TIGER BEETLE, who attempted to radio Venus on VHF in the 1996 SHTP.

After sunrise coffee, executed in a #4 paper cone filter over my mug, I made breakfast. Except for once/week omelette with fried toast and jam, I alternate between Bob's Red Mill Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats and brother-in-law Tom's Best Ever Granola. Both are delicious, healthy, filling, and easy to serve. I add a diced apple, raisins, and brown sugar to the oatmeal, and long life milk to the granola.



Water temp has risen to 68 degrees. Time for a lee rail bucket bath this afternoon. We carry multiple buckets of different sizes for different purposes. As many have learned to their dismay, a smaller bucket is best for fetching bath water over the rail.

That red and white spinnaker sighted twice to windward comes and goes. Currently gone. A red billed tropic bird is hanging out above the backstay, its loud cry quite shrill and piercing. I did pass a net island, about 10 feet in diameter, 25 yards to windward..would not like to have entangled in that!

 

[AntsUiga]

Hi Ants,
Thank you for the question regarding WILDFLOWER's barometer. We use a Speedtech recording electronic barometer that hangs on the main bulkhead. It powers on 4xAAA batteries, which last about 2 years. The unit is about 20 years old, and I doubt is still made. I check it regularly with the nearest airport pressure, and it is ivariably accurate. It also reads temperature and humidity. The Speedtech measures 4″ x 5″ x 3/4″, and weighs 4 oz. It has a pair of switches in the back to select metric or English units; It also has on the face four push-buttons to adjust for altitude and to recall all readings made over the past 24 hours. It once sold for $99. A glance at the display presents a clear picture of pressure trends over the past day. All readings over the past 24 hours are stored, so the display can be turned back an hour at a time to see what has happened.

The only thing bogus about this barometer is it shows a sun, a sun with clouds, or clouds with rain..I've taped over that part of the display as you can see in the below photo.

Before the 2020 SHTP start I checked it's calibration with Oakland Airport.

I have no experience with barometer watches. I could ask Stan Honey if you wish.

View attachment 5576

Yes, I would be interested in any comments from Stan Honey on barometer watches. I have used a Suunto version for about 30 years. The barometric function measures elevation as well as barometric pressure. How does the watch know if I am moving vertically or the weather is changing. The elevation increment is 20 feet so when I drive past an elevation marker on the road, the watch shows an elevation within 100 feet of the road sign.

The only weird variation was while driving through AZ mountains and thunderstorms. The watch was about 2,000 feet off and took about a day before it settled down.

The weather and barometric device you have looks nice. I think I will look to see if any like it is still made.

Ants

 

[BobJ]

I don't know if you're recounting this race from your 2008 log or virtual reality but if the latter, I'll bet that red and white spinnaker belongs to BOMBORA!

Go Rebecca!

 

[sleddog]

I don't know if you're recounting this race from your 2008 log or virtual reality but if the latter, I'll bet that red and white spinnaker belongs to BOMBORA!
Go Rebecca!

Don't think the red and white spinny to windward is Express-27 BOMBORA. Rebecca was entered in the canceled 2020 Pac Cup as navigator aboard SURPRISE, the Schumacher 46 and didn't do the SHTP Qualifier...My guess is it's either LOW DOWN, the SC-27; the O-25 SHARK ON BLUE GRASS; Will on SEA WISDOM, or the Westsail 32 HULA. If it's HULA, Bill Stange is sailing exceptionally well, which is quite likely given his experience. Here's HULA with a reddish spinnaker:



Speaking of surprises, I haven't seen you since the start, 5 days ago. How's it going up ahead? Wanna share your position? Weather? Any sign of HEDGEHOG, GREEN BUFFALO, MOUNTAIN, or SIREN?

Though I'm sailing WILDFLOWER in her 2008 configuration using current weather, this account is not from my 2008 Log...

 

[BobJ]

Speaking of surprises, I haven't seen you since the start, 5 days ago.

The short answer is that July 15th is the new April 15th. I did squeeze the SHF in last Saturday. But you could check with Jim Q to make sure Surprise! isn't sitting on GB's virtual hip.

 

[sleddog]

Day 6 7/03/20 Noon Position 29-28 N x 138-20. 24 hour run 137 miles @235m (249T). Speed average = 5.7 knots knots. Current wind ENE (79 T) @11-12 knots with 3-5' seas. 25%% overcast. Baro=1020 mb.

With the baro dropping, the wind veering, and sunshine now prevailing, we are over the EPAC ridge and entering the tradewinds, which will carry us downwind for the remaining 1215 odd miles to Hanalei.

Last night was the first I've carried the spinny all night. Good conditions to do so, with 12-13 knots of wind, smooth seas, and no squalls. We sailed 10-15 degrees high most of the night on starboard gybe to keep the speed up, over 5.5 knots, rather than get further south by sailing DDW, half a knot slower. The wind is forecast to clock (veer) further east, and any time the true wind direction goes right of 80 T (67 m) I will throw in a gybe to port, not only to get further south, but also because the port gybe would then be slightly favored.

Gybing the spinnaker end-for-end in 12 knots of wind is a piece of soup: ease the pole lift, after guy, and old sheet slightly, put the boat on a DDW course with the AP. Push the AP "-10" red button once to turn 10 degrees to port. Walk forward on the starboard side and disconnect butt end of the pole from the mast. "Make" the butt end fitting with the old port sheet. Simultaneously trip the starboard end of the pole from the old starboard guy and connect it to the mast, walk aft on the starboard side, release the main preventer, gybe the main, press the red AP button once more for a further 10 degree turn to port, trim the chute for the new course, and settle in on the new gybe while also taking up the new preventer. Takes about 2 minutes or less.

When double ending the pole on the foredeck, I wrap my harness tether once around the mast and back to the harness, effectively shortening it to 3'. WILDFLOWER also has 2 windsurfer footstraps screwed to the deck in front of and either side of the mast. Astern, during maneuvers, I tow a temporary 30 foot towline with a loop at its end. This towline is also connected to either the windvane or AP, so if strain comes on it, the self steering system disconnects, strain comes on the tiller, and the boat tacks.

This whole gybing scenario works until the wind gets to 16 knots. At 18 knots TWS we gybe by dropping the spinnaker first, then either rehoist on the new gybe, or set the twins in its place. Gybing a spinnaker singlehanded in 18 knots of wind or greater is an iffy proposition, and gybing under main alone, not much speed is lost on this displacement hull. I always opt for the conservative approach, though some would argue for the double pole technique as GREEN BUFFALO has perfected.



As mentioned earlier, I choose to keep the ship's clock on PDST. This means, as we make our way south and west, the sun rises and sets later each day, ship's time. About 1400 the sun is directly overhead and begins to shade the cockpit and solar panels on the stern pulpit. The shading increases during the afternoon until evening, when the angle of the sun causes it to shine under the foot of the spinnaker and directly into the helms person's eyes.

This morning at 0830 I had a bowl of Tom's Best Granola saturated with Long Life milk. WILDFLOWER has never had refrigeration, nor have we ever carried ice. Between breakfast and lunch I snack on dried fruit and my own "gorp" recipe, a combo of cashews, peanuts, raisins or chocolate chips. Lunchtime, today at ~1400, I threw together an avo, mayo and cheese sandwich with a hard boiled egg and peeled orange. Other sandwich possibilities include tunafish, mayo, and relish; and PB, mayo, and pickle slices.

That takes me to Happy Hour, the hour before sunset, when I snack on treats from the treat locker: anchovy fillets on Triscuits; carrots;, salami slices and Englehofers mustard on Triscuits; wheat thins; dolmas; peanut butter on celery;, jicama slices;, you name it, we have it as a treat possibility. We only carry one 6 pack of beer aboard, for the second half of the race. Though I can't chill any drinks, anything I want cool goes under the floorboards. Sunset drinks might either be a can of Squirt or pre-mixed powdered lemonade. I'm saving the first beer for the half way party, when we cross longitude 141 W, likely tomorrow evening

 

[Jonathan Gutoff]

It looks like it's getting hot while running downwind during the day. Do you have any shade? Are you still hand steering occasionally or is the vane/autopilot doing most of the driving?

 

[sleddog]

It looks like it's getting hot while running downwind during the day. Do you have any shade? Are you still hand steering occasionally or is the vane/autopilot doing most of the driving?

Hi Jonathan,
WILDFLOWER has now emerged from under cloud cover that frequents the early half of most Transpacs. Direct sun can be energy sapping, especially with its declination passing nearly overhead. On ILLUSION with Stan and Sally, we carried a large (6') Cinzano umbrella that was stepped over the helm. During frequent gybing (Stan likes to gybe on 5 degree shifts, we all had our positions, and Jon Andron, a world class sailor, was detailed to gybe the umbrella side to side.

On WILDFLOWER I have a 5'x7 Sunbrella cockpit awning I set each morning and furl each afternoon. It has two cross slats, sets from the backstay, and can be easily angled to maximize shade over the driver. I consider cockpit shade vital. But most racers would scoff at a sailing awning or Bimini on a raceboat.

After local apparent noon, the sun begins to go behind the spinny or twin jibs, and by mid-afternoon I can roll up the cockpit awning as the cockpit is shaded. The little awning stays rigged, hanging off the backstay, looking like a furled miniature square sail.

I would love to let self steering drive all the time. However, sometimes under spinnaker, it is faster and/or more fun to hand steer. WILDFLOWER won't plane. But sometimes thinks she can. I remember one memorable sunrise squall approaching Kaneohe. The wind went from 20 to 35. I thought there was no way the .75 spinny would last. But it did, during 15 minutes time when we were going faster than the boat ever had in her life. Giddyup, Buttercup!

So yes, I handsteer during the day under spinnaker, max 3-4 hours without a break. Neither the AP nor windvane qualifies as a reliable driver for the spinnaker except in smooth conditions with steady breeze like last night. I used to be able to handsteer 3-4 hours on a dark night. But no more. If there's a full moon, like the one coming up in a few days, night hand steering can be a treat, and I would tend to fly the spinnaker more.

Changing between poled out jib(s) and spinnaker, and then back, can be costly in time and distance, often costing a mile, or even more, when running under main alone while getting things squared away, especially with a net in the foretriangle that will likely have to come down. I don't carry a net or sock on WILDFLOWER, but we did have both on ILLUSION. I enjoy simplicity in the foretriangle and WILDFLOWER has 1 spinny halyard, and 1 jib halyard. There are tracer lines rigged for spares. But rarely need them.

Hope I answered your queries. It's not black and white, and makes fertile subject for discussion both pre-race and under the Tree.

 

[Philpott]

Wildflower, Wildflower, this is Dura Mater. Do you read me? I'm in the bay but have learned how to change my masthead antenna from LO to HI. Finally.

Do you see Rainbow in your rear view mirror? He sailed under the Golden Gate with main alone last Wednesday July One, exiting shortly after noon.



You probably hope your competition can't track you on Wildflower, but here is Cliff's tracking site. I think it's okay to share it because he won't expect to catch you.

Although last night at 8 pm he WAS going almost 7 knots. Go, MotherShip!

https://share.garmin.com/CliffordShaw
*

 

[sleddog]

Do you see Rainbow in your rear view mirror? He sailed under the Golden Gate with main alone last Wednesday July One, exiting shortly after noon.
https://share.garmin.com/CliffordShaw*

Thanks, Jackie! Good to hear long time friend Cliff Shaw and mothership RAiNBOW will be meeting up with WILDFLOWER and the 2020 SHTP fleet in Hanalei Bay.

Day 7 7/04/20 Noon posit 28-00 N x 140-43 W 24 hour run 151 miles at 223 M (248 T). Av. speed
6.2 knots. Wind E (093T) @ 12-13 knots with 3-5' seas. 25% overcast. Baro=1021 mb.

Happy July 4th All! We are celebrating today, having crossed our 1/2 way point this morning. It's been all port gybe for the last 24 hours with small seas from dead astern making for a comfortable ride. We have ~ 1075 miles to go, and an encouraging forecast of slowly building trades. We continue under spinny with the AP steering, which gives slightly faster course adjustments in these conditions than the windvane, whose oar is currently retracted for less drag.

We've an interesting weather phenomena in the vicinity: there is a nearly straight line of cloud extending from astern to out of sight ahead. This line or cloud streak I estimate being 2-3 miles wide. Stan Honey has observed, and I concur, that the wind speed increases by 1 or 2 knots at the edge of these cloud streaks due to down drafts from the convective nature of the atmosphere where the air is rising vertically under the cloud. And descending on its edges. The result of this is it is advantageous, if possible, to run along the edge of a cloud streak rather than under it, or away from it....I can see the darker water of the cloud's shadow just to starboard, so we are positioned on its left hand edge, and the wind is 13-14 knots, rather the 11-12 knots we had earlier, a nice little gain for today's holiday.

Someone once asked my father why our family's boats were always named HOLIDAY. His succinct reply, "Nothing goes faster."

here's the Surface Map for Monday morning, 0500, July 6th, 2 days hence. Looking strong!

 

[sleddog]

Our halfway 4th of July party yesterday started an hour before full moon rise at sunset. Enjoyed a beer and blue tortilla corn chips with salsa, Then steamed some hot dogs with buns and had them with mustard, onions, and ketchup. To complete the red, white, and blue theme, I also steamed an ear of white corn. For dessert, a bowl of blueberries with milk while whistling Stars and Stripes forever. Corny. But bugliters do stuff like that when singlehanding across an ocean.

Last evening after sunset squalls began to overtake from astern. With the trades currently and uncharacteristically quite easterly in direction (090T) rather than more NE, we continued running on port gybe with the .75 spinny in 14-16 knots of wind at good speed, 6-7 knots the AP steering while I cleaned up.

As it looked like we'd finally be getting some night time squall action, with the full moon light shining from astern, I prepped the twin jibs and doused the spinny. Set the twins during which time, under main alone, I don't think our speed went under 5 knots. Also switched the AP to wind vane steering, and off we sailed into a most lovely evening.

About every 20-30 minutes I would take bearings on incoming squalls and estimate if and when we'd be in their sphere of influence. And yes, we did get 3-4 squalls overhead, spaced about an hour apart during the night. The wind would veer (clock) 10-20 degrees with each squall, and windspeed went to 18-22 knots or a bit more for a few minutes. The windvane was fully capable of steering in these conditions. But I liked to be on deck, foulies on hand, and hand steering when the first puff of a squall would descend on WILDFLOWER.

At dawn this morning the full moon was setting on the bow, and another squall was approaching from astern.
I didn't want to risk being subject to light winds from a squall collapse at sunrise, so temporarily reached up on port to 225 T(212m) for 15 minutes to get out from under this incoming squall. Things worked as hoped, and windspeed never dropped to less than 15 knots with boat speed a little above 7.

Today, end of Day 8, our 7/05/20 Noon Position is 27-07 N x 143-30. 24 hour run was 159 miles @239M (252 T). Speed average = 6.6. Current wind E (90 T) @14-16 knots with 3-5' seas. 25% overcast. Baro=1022 mb.

Here's today's chart with tomorrow's GFS GRIB File winds overlayed:

 

[Philpott]

What? A windvane? You must have strengthened your transom before leaving? This surely is not the Navik that threatened to tear off Wildflower's back end last time? Remember when you and Wildflower II were berthed in Berkeley Marina during the summer? Over on O Dock? That was the last time I tried strengthening DM's transom for my windvane. What. A. Mess. I made! Gotta try it again soon, though. Please advise.