Aboard Dignity (Lagoon 420) Blog

Mum’s dream of having a quieter ride has been granted.

The winds are down to nothing and we are moving at less than 4 knots, sometimes begging for it to stay in the 3’s and not to drop back into the 1’s and 2’s.

Our average trip speed is now tumbling and will start crashing in to the 5’s soon enough. A long fall from the 6.5 it hit during our fast days.

To top it off it not really a smooth ride anymore. The swell, even though small, just knocks us around and the winds are so light that the boom is banging and crashing around, the head sail is also flapping then snapping once it get a breeze.

Everyday we are here at sea is a day less at the islands. I’ve come to the realization that I probably will not make it to Bora Bora and will only see Tahiti out of all the Society Islands. Shame as I was hoping to see them with my own eyes, take some photos and was one of the things i was most looking forward to doing on this trip.

Truly a boring and miserable day, Steve actually got the Code Zero out of it’s grave and started to patch it up, after a few hours of stitching he came to the conclusion that a main stress point in the sail was beyond repair.

After dinner we had some tea and watched the full moon rise.

Grib file said that there would be wind tomorrow, I hope it come during the night.

Today was probably the best day of this crossing. Over night the wind and waves died down. There was no more pounding and banging. We sailed down wind, the sails wing on wing, the boat gliding over gentle swells. I could walk around without swinging from side to side, doing erratic dances, bashing into protruding objects. The sky was clear and blue. The wind no longer whipped around me but flowed over me, a light fresh breeze. My body and senses enjoyed the much needed rest from days of continuous hammering motion.
To top the day Steve decided it was gentle enough to use the washing machine! Cleaning the smelliest of the wash was like cleansing away my irrational concerns. It’s been wonderful to move with ease, relax and feel restored.

For Steve and John it was probably the worst day. The drop in wind meant the drop in speed. They spent the day feeling frustrated with the slowness of the boat. Watching the landfall ETA going further and further back. No fish caught to compensate.

It would be good to reach landfall. However when the sailing is this pleasant, I’m not in a hurry.

576nm to go.

Light winds have dominated our existence for the last 24 hours or so. We’re really regretting the loss of our downwind sail as we’re doing a knot or two less than we could be. We joked about stitching it up which may not end up being a joke of the winds get any lighter than they are right now. Having abandoned all hope of May 1st arrival, May 2nd is now looking in doubt. If we can average 5.2 knots for the next 4.5 days we’ll do it but we’re not coming close to that right now. Our trip average is well above that, including the two slow days at the beginning, but the winds are not on our side and nor is the forecast.

Every wind shift and every change in tone of the wind generator is accompanied with the hope of increased winds. Sometimes we find ourselves moving again back at 6-7 knots but it doesn’t last.

The calmer conditions did have some upside. We did a wash which pleased Helen more than anyone but we’ve all benefited. I was able to fix a new end to my USB -> Zune cable which had got a little dodgy. This is particilarly important as I’ve discovered it now has a Soduku game on it which I’m sure wasn’t there when I first owned the unit.

Bored of the sea.

The winds have really died on us and the forecast doesn’t show it’s going to be any better for a couple of days.

We are now doing rubbish speeds.

I might just sell my soul for some sleep, wind, booze and fish.

724…723…722…721… nautical miles to go!