Galapagos to Marquesas –20 May 2024 – Day 19- Last 300nm

Charles and I had the red eye slot 2.00am-5.00am and we were sailing well although the wind was trying to push us southwest of our ideal line. We did what we could regarding our wind angle to alleviate this. We watched the stars and in the southern hemisphere there is the Southern Cross which is 4 stars in the shape of a kite and if you follow the bottom of the kite to the horizon that is where south is.

We went off watch again and slept and then I got up about 8.00am and we were quite off course with the wind (not predicted) at about 035-45 degrees and so it was pushing us southwest of our ideal line again. The wind strength was still good and we were making 7-8 kts. The weather forecast showed that the wind would gradually decline and there was a bit of a wind hole coming and the models suggested gybing for a while. We decided to continue and when the wind became light enough we would put up the Blue Baron which would enable us to sail at a better angle to counter the southwest wind and also to enable us to sail well in the lighter winds. The wind gradually declined and we put up the Blue Baron and all went well and we were back on track again.

Betty Poop – the Boobie had left a mess on the deck and Keith and Ian who were on the morning watch cleaned up. However, despite our trying to discourage her to not return she did later and landed on deck. Initially Ian went and shooed her away and then there was a series of us shooing her away from the front deck, the spreaders, the boom, the satellite pole and the radar pole. It went on for some time and must have looked quite comical. If we said we were chasing birds in the Pacific some might raise an eyebrow!

We had been making good progress, but the wind gradually declined and we were guessing our 24 hour run – which was 188 nm – not too bad but we had high hopes when we started as in the first 4 hours we made 9 kts each. We now have just under 300nm to go.

We had some lunch and spent the afternoon chilling, reading, resting or chatting. I made a loaf of bread and when I got it out of the even I realised I had forgotten to put yeast in – so it was a hard loaf. I therefore had to make another – very frustrating. We were visited by a large pod of dolphins who played in front our bow and the picture of the day is one of those. It is always an uplifting experience and I always feel lucky to see such amazing creatures.

The wind continued to decline and went as low as 5-6 kts and the Parasail was struggling to fill. Predictwind said it should fill in by 6-7.00pm but it did not arrive. Betty Poop did again and has decided to spend the night on the dinghy. We had had enough of trying to chase her away and she cannot do any harm there and if she poops then we can easily clean it off!!

Mark cooked another Spanish Omelette as we have now run out of meat. We  had to decide whether to take the Parasail down and motor as we are barely making 4.5 kts and we want to get there early on the morning of the 22nd so we arrive in daylight. We have 228 miles to go and need to do at least 6.4 kts an hour. We are on the last stretch and the wind dies now after 3,200 nm! That is sailing sometimes.

We decided to wait until 7.45pm when I checked the weather again. There is a wind hole coming overnight so we are not going to get much wind until tomorrow evening. We therefore took the decision to take down the Parasail and to motor until we get wind as there is little alternative.

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