Galapagos to Marquesas –14 May 2024 – Day 13

Charles and I had the red eye slot from 2.00-5.00am and we were making the best course we could North until we got to 4 degrees of latitude. The models had split in that most went North and only two went south and we were likely to have some lighter wind days. We went off watch leaving Mark and Joyce to take over and then Keith and Ian.

What are nights like? Our watches are only three hours long, but all are in the dark except the 5.00am – 8.00am watch when it gets light about 5.45 ish.  The watches are 8.00pm to 11.00pm, 11,00pm until 2.00am, 2.00am to 5.00am and the 5.00am to 8.00am.  We always have two on watch so that you have company and they are responsible for sailing the boat and/or monitoring the progress made. They record a log in the logbook each hour and adjust the sails as is necessary which may mean reefing or taking out a reef or changing sails. It is an important role as the rest of us are asleep and so we are relying on them to do what is necessary and keep us all safe. If they need help then they will get others up to help with the issue. When on watch you are listening to the boat and the sounds with which you become familiar. If there is an odd sound or new sound you need to find out what it is in case it is a sign of something wrong. You also spend time looking at the instruments and in particular the strength of the wind in terms of true wind speed as if it gets above a level you may need to reef. You look at the wind direction and  also the chart plotter which shows you the direction of the boat indicating whether we are on course and if not how much are we off course.

It is also a time to chat and have a cup of tea or two and possibly to have a snack from the naughty cupboard. We look at the stars and sea and listen to the swish of the water. How much we see depends on the moon and how bright it is. It is also a time to think and reflect. You cannot see the bow of the boat so hope we are not going to hit anything. We look out for other boats and lights and are otherwise alert according to the rules of the road.

I got up about 8.00am and the aim was to put up the Blue Baron to give us more speed and to enable us to sail a better angle. Once we were all ready we hoisted the Parasail and were soon sailing along at about 150 degrees off the wind. This enabled us to do about 7.5 kts in quite light wind. In looking at the weather there were some wind holes coming up and we needed to try and avoid them. We were therefore sailing just south of west to get to a point to gybe and following one of the models. This took us most of the day and we sailed along nicely in warm sunny conditions with the odd cloud here and there. The wind gradually declined down to about 8-10 kts.

The window hinge in the hard doghouse broke so I got out some spares and we set about fixing it.  This was complicated as the pin had snapped in the housing which we had to drill out. However, after about an hour we had fixed it which was satisfying.

We had a special lunch cooked by Mark which was sardines on toast with onion, pine nuts etc which was delicious. The day passed with resting, reading, chatting and looking at the weather and working out which route to take.  We took down the Blue Baron at sunset and gybed and went back on to white sails. We set ourselves up for the night.

Keith and Ian heated up our last stew which we had with mashed potato and plantain. The bowls were emptied which is a testament to the chefs.

We hope tomorrow we will get more wind and we are gradually moving toward to our destination. Despite the winds we made 168 nm for the 24 hours to 12.00noon.  

Crewing Opportunity

We will arrive in the Marquesas in French Polynesia about 20-23 May 2024 and we will then move through to the Tuamotu’s before getting to Tahiti about the end of July 2024. There may be some space on Stormbird during this period should any sailor/reader be interested in joining for this period or part of it in what must be one of the most distant and beautiful places in the world.

Year Two

In addition, in year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and probably across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town and I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we head off to the Marquesas and beyond.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com  I can only upload one picture a day and visit our website www.stormbirdgoesglobal.co.uk