Trade winds!
A major low pressure system has disrupted the normal flow of the trade winds for the past week, and the forecast called for that system to break up and the normal flow to return in the evening. We began the day sailing slowly under Code Blue, and as the afternoon progressed the wind moved from 8-10 to 10-12, then to 12-14, and then to 14-16.
We set the boat up for downwind sailing in higher winds, and by late evening the wind had built to a steady 18-20 with higher gusts, exactly as forecasted. The trade winds are back! We zipped along all night at 7-8kts of boat speed, and the forecast is for these conditions to persist until we get to Hawaii.
Now that the boat is moving in a proper way again, Angie’s fishing rig can work as designed. About an hour after dropping it behind the boat this morning, she pulled in a beautiful mahi-mahi. Anyone for fresh fish tacos for lunch?
Day Twelve: 139nm
Position: 22 02’N 147 34’W
