Today's Report
June 7/11 0800 JST
Position: 23°13'N, 179°26'E
Remaining to Yokohama finish: 2,234 nm / 8.2% (ETA: 26 - 30 days)
Another night of drifting, but at least he got some sleep. With the genoa cranked in to 50% he felt he could let the boat do what it wanted while he caught some shut-eye. This morning, though still frustrated about his lack of progress at just 9 nm for the period, he was in better spirits and could laugh at his predicament: "I'm in a convergence zone where the wind is west, east, north – all over the place… it's like the doldrums!"
He moved 17 nm overground since yesterday but was able to progress only 9 nm toward Yokohama, now 2,234 nm distant.
The last time he's seen similar conditions was near the Galapagos Islands back in May 2010 when he even lost 5 nm thanks to an eastward current. Then, as well, the engine was on holiday due to an overheating problem. Those WERE the infamous Doldrums, a band of windless conditions near the Equator. Fortunately, where he is now is instead the result of a succession of smallish highs moving from west to east that are bringing flat seas and little or no wind. Above that about 300-400 nm have been a march of stormy lows, also moving east.
We discussed that ClearPoint Weather is showing he'll likely start to get a break from the fluky wind conditions at about mid-afternoon today, when the breeze is expected to pipe up from the north at 7 knots then later veer around to out of the east at 5 – 7 knots. At that point it seems he'll return to normal sailing.
[Click to enlarge]
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Distance in last 24 hours: 17 nm DOG
Total distance completed: 25,505 nm
To Yokohama:
Average daily DMG over last 4 days of sailing: 30 nm (measured)
ETA: 28 days (if sailing @ 3.3 kts)
Heading: none, drifting
Reported boat speed: 0 kts
Average boat speed: 0.7 kts
Weather: Clearing; warm
Temperature: 26.5° C
Barometer: 1016 hPa
Wind (from): 1 kt "W then E then N!"
Waves: 0.0 m
Sails: Genoa 50%, staysail 0%, mainsail 3pt reef
Engine: 0 hrs
Generator: 8 hrs
[Weather and wind forecasts are from ClearPoint Weather, a Saito 8 contributing sponsor.]
