Day 3.

Not much to report! Yesterday, I fell asleep around 1500 and slept until just before sunset. I had set the alarm so I would have time to decrease the sails and plan a bit for the night before the sun disappeared! I have had to break out the winter gear, as temperatures have dropped to 15 degrees Celsius at night. Last night I had rain for the first time out here, as well. Rain clouds are all around me but not on top of me, so far today!

I seem to be averaging 6.5-6.8 knots and I’ve seen my speed as high as 9 knots. Sarantium is surfing nicely off these massive waves, giving me an extra knot or two! I might not make the noon timeline for tomorrow’s high at Aitutaki entrance. If that’s the case, I’ll probably need to slow down and plan for the following day! One option is that I heave-to outside the island for the night, preferably out of the swell. Heaving-to is basically doing a tack but not turning the big headsail, leaving it on the “wrong side”. This will, together with the rudder turned opposite, act as a break. The boat still moves but only at .5-1 knots. Or I’ll sail around in circles all night long!

At noon on July 21st, 2026: SOG: 7.5kn COG: 250T 17*50.207 S / 156*43.916 W