Day 606 [May 31/10] -- Back to 'pretty good' sailing

Today's Report
May 31/10 0800 JST / 1600 local

Position:
10°41'N, 118°43'W (North Pacific Ocean) 

"Pretty good -- not bad," was Saito-san's assessment today, after he was lifted 136 nm -- 123 of those toward Hawaii -- during the period. Winds were 15 to as much as 24 kts mainly from the north on a beam reach, but sometimes a less favorable north-northwest. He pulled in the genoa to 80% to reduce stress on the sails and rigging, with the main kept at a 2-point reef.

We promised him a bit reduced winds for the next 19 hours as shown by ClearPoint, which is showing winds steady from the east at 10 or 11 kts.

***
We were sent a link to a Sail World article published yesterday and pass it along here. While it doesn't say much more about the "challenge" of that 73-year-old sailor in Australia, it uses a bit more colorful language and probably quotes him more accurately than yesterday's news piece. 

It also quotes Saito-san, using snippets from this blog, for which we thank Sail World.

And another "thank you" to Saito 8 Committee member Tony Whitman for sending the link along.

***
Distance in last 24 hours: 136 nm overground, 123 nm DMG
Total distance completed: 22,084 nm
To Yokohama: 6,116 nm (distance remaining: 21.9%)
To Hawaii WP: 2,259 nm
Heading: 270°
Reported boat speed: 5.0 kts
Average boat speed: 5.7 kts
Average daily DMG over last 7 days: 67 nm 
Weather: Overcast with occasional rain
Temperature: 27.0° C
Barometer: 1007 hPa (steady)
Wind (from): 15 - 24 kts, NNW expected to be 10-11 kts NNE over next 19 hrs
Waves: 2.0 m
Current (from): E at 0.7 kts
Engine: 0.0 hrs
Generator: 10.5 hrs
Sails: Genoa 80%, staysail 0%, mainsail 2-pt reef

Position Map