Galapagos to Marquesas –19 May 2024 – Day 18 -Within 500nm

We took over at 5.00am and we were still sailing fast and on target which was great. We were nearly breaking the 500nm to go. We watched the sun rise between the small low-level clouds and the day began and the sun soon came up. The vastness of the water was the same as we have seen for a few weeks now but other than the odd bird we have seen little life for days.

Charles and I had some cereal and I then went to check then generator and the gasket repair I had made. It seemed to be fine and so I connected the header tank again and filled it. It was not leaking. At about 7.00am I put on the generator to charge the batteries and it ran fine and in three hours the batteries were charged and I had also made more water and filled the tanks. This all seemed to work well and once the generator had cooled down I checked the leak, header tank and radiator level and all seemed  good. I did look in my spares and do have another fitting at the filler cap should we need it. I think we will wait to anchor and have a level sea before we undertake any more repairs should we need to.

We downloaded the weather and the models initially wanted to push us northwest again and then to turn down to the Marquesas, but this was adding about 140 nm and was showing us arrive in the evening of the 23rd. Then there was an update and it still wanted us to go more northwest and the reason for this appeared to be to keep the boat in the stronger wind. However, this seemed to us unnecessary and  if the wind got a bit lighter we would use the Blue Baron. We therefore decided to carry straight on the direct route keeping just right of the direct line as it appears that the wind may back round to the northeast later, so we were factoring this in. There is also a possibility according to the models of a wind hole on our last day. However, things change each day and hopefully that will as well.  Keith made some scrambled egg on toast which is becoming a daily routine and always welcome.

Stormbird was in the groove and we were sailing along at 8-9 kts and it was as if she wanted to get there too. The wind has been good pretty consistent at 14-18 kts or so and we now have some momentum. The hours passed and the 12.00noon run was coming up and it was difficult to guess. It was 189nm for the 24 hours and the way in which we started the next 24 hours we may even beat this if the wind holds. We started to get more regularly into the 9 plus kts of speed and the first hour of the new 24 hours has started with a 9 and we are now well below the 500nm and before the day is done we will be below the 400nm mark.

As I wrote some of this earlier and I have returned to write more we have achieved 9nm for the first four hours following noon. If this holds up could we exceed a 200nm run?

We began to see more bird life and before long a Boobie (we called “Betty” landed on deck. They look so nice and cute and we did not want to be cruel, but we know what will happen. Mark went first to shoo it way and it was very tame and he got within about a foot of it before it flew off. However, it came back again and again and we left it for a while but it then left its calling card and we did not want to be a lavatory again. Keith had to go up with a bucket and a brush to clean up. He then stood on deck for a while and  Betty kept coming back and landing and he was chasing it away. It was quite comical. It then got wise and landed on the spreaders above out of reach and away from Keith’s right foot!

As the day went on we saw more groups of birds and we are probably fighting a loosing battle. If you recall when sailing to the Galapagos then used to land and sit on the pulpit at night and ride with us (and poop!). We will see whether this is repeated tonight.  We rested, read and had a light lunch and chilled in the afternoon. We had some rain briefly but not enough to really wash the decks.

Mark made some brownies and the smell of cooking chocolate wafted up into the cockpit making us salivate. There were a couple of small tears in the Blue Baron’s sock, so I went up on deck to stitch them. As I did so Betty flew back and well we have given up chasing her off. She obviously needs a rest and well we can clean the deck in the am. (Keith and Ian are on then so it will be their task!!).

We continued to sail well and then it calmed down for 30 minutes and then it rose up again. Although there was quite a bit of cloud we had an amazing sunset. Mark cooked a chilli con carne which was good and we had watermelon after. The night started well and we are continuing to make good mileage. We have effectively two days sailing to go and the ideal would be to arrive in daylight. We will take the miles now while we can as there could be  wind hole which slows us down.  

Picture of the day – Betty the Boobie!!

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