2 degres latitude North...we have some light South wind...this wind should switch sooner or later to south east; the challenge is to stay as closed as possible from this wind to gain some degrees eastward...If a Maramu arrive, (strong local wind from SE), it will be much more confortable !
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| Welcome to south Pacific ! |
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| First gift: a yellow tail..even Scott (vegetarian) ll eat it ! |
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| Sometimes, wind switch enough to use the Code 0...but not for long...we stay east of the direct road |
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| ...a bad discovery: this last watermelon is dead from inside... |
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| the wind is light, but we must stay on the closed reach until 2 degres North |
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| ...even with 100% of the mainsail... |
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Scott, charging batteries, after 4th may equator crossing celebration (Captain Morgan)...
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| Everyday we gain 3 degrees to RIKITEA..219m/24h on 7th may |
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...reason is a Maramu is forecasted soon...
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| ...That why most of the cruisers leaving Mexico sail to MARQUISES and not GAMBIER ! |
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...The party start with gust to 30k then stabilize around 25k
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| ALCYONE sail with 2nd reef with a bit of jib... |
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the windvane is at 105 port; not too bad...
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| inside, cooking is becomes a real challenge... |
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...protecting the gas and blocking the pans is compulsory...
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| ...as anybody can understand regarding these side waves... |
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| In these conditions, challenge is to keep a reasonable speed around 8 k to limit the waves-shocks... |
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| ...but its sometimes impossible... |
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| ...200m per 24h during last week is the result... |
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...from a challenge, sleeping becomes natural...
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| 3 times a wave like this one fill the cockpit with seawater... |
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| ...but , tks to the cat conception, all is out shortly... |
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| After 3 days (n nights), wind ease and shift slowly... |
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| ...but the race is not finished... |
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| ...as we had to install the Code 0 again on last night to avoid the coming calms... |
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| ...on 23 may, GAMBIER is on sight... |
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| ...and after 21 days and 3350 miles on the water, |
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| a carefull arrival through the easy west pass... |
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| ...ALCYONE arrive in the RIKITEA anchorage... |
