Today's Report
April 18/10 0800 JST
Position:
01°13'S, 91°413'W (South Pacific Ocean, near Isla Isabela)
A strong, perfectly directed westward current at 1 to 1.5 kts helped an engineless 110 nm in the period, and about 10 pm local time saw him just 5 nm off the south edge of Isla Isabela.
He called this morning, enthused about the progress and happy that both winds and currents have been so favorable close to the Galápagos. He hopes to be near enough to the grand queen of the Galápagos to take some pictures as the sun rises.
Soon after he passes, he'll meet a northward current that will continue his ride up to the Equator. He expects to make the crossing at 94°W, probably in about 35-40 hours.
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He saw 2 sailboats this morning, one a catamaran. One came up to within 500 meters. Those are the first sailing craft he's seen since leaving Valdivia. Both were headed east across his track.
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Distance in last 24 hours: 110 nm
Distance completed: 20,214 nm
To Yokohama: 8,085 nm (distance remaining: 28.5%)
Heading: 305
Reported boat speed: 4.5 kt (day's average: 4.6 kt)
Weather: Continued overcast
Temperature: 30.0° C during the day
Barometer: 1005 hPa (slowly dropping)
Wind (from): Steady at 7-9 kts SE -- expected to stay below 8 kts out of ESE
Waves: 1.0 m
Current (from): very favorable, E at 1 - 1.5 kts
Engine rpms: 1.5 hrs, 1200 rpm (idling during island passage)
Generator: 10.5 hrs
Sails: Genoa 0%, staysail 100%, mainsail 1-pt reef
Position Map (click to enlarge)
