First depression for VDH

Beating his way into the Pacific

Day 35. Position at 1p.m: 56°41’S / 83°33’W
Wind: 7 knots from NW. Sea: moderate.
Temperatures: day 10°C / night 6°C / sea 5°C
Distance covered in the last 24H. : 178 miles.
To the antemeridian 3,477 miles.
Lead over Monnet: 7 days and 14 hours.

Hi there,

I’ve just been through my first depression (it’s only normal!) in the South Pacific. Here’s what happens. The wind starts from the north and quickly backs NW while strengthening. It’s time to bring in the genoese. Then it finishes going around by coming from WNW and strengthens still further. I take in one reef than two. If the wind strengthens still further, which wasn’t the case yesterday, I raise the staysail, take in a third reef, and finally, in extreme conditions, I lower the staysail and just use the mainsail with 3 reefs.

Next, the front goes over and the wind goes around to the WSW, I change my tack and we head off to the NW. Then the wind abates, and one by one, I hoist everything back up...what a relief!

Of course, as I cannot simply head west all the time, I have to tack to the SW then the NW, so my progress at the end of the 24 hours isn’t that great. Now I’m in a new transitionary period, as yesterday’s little depression went over very quickly and I’m waiting for the next one!

See you on Sunday,

JL VDH

A day with KIRU, the red dog, who is HOWEL’s cuddly toy born just a few days ago.