Day 24, Fri 13th July. 48-12N, 164-50W. Daily Run: 130 NM. Weather: 10 Knots W, Cold & Grey. 1644 NM to go

Day 24, Fri 13th July. 48-12N, 164-50W. Daily Run: 130 NM. Weather: 10 Knots W, Cold & Grey. 1644 NM to go
The wind subsided a bit overnight, now it’s more gentle at around 10 knots, we have changed course to head east as that looks best from a long and short term perspective. Taking the rhumb line (direct route on the chart, but further than the great circle route), will get us better winds I hope.
Other than that, not a lot has happened, all systems trundling along just fine, with the exception of the block/car for the port Genoa sheet, which I found in bits this morning when I had a look around. I think it has rattled itself apart, with one of the pins heading over the side. I have cobbled together a repair which should be good. I’m learning a lot about equipping a boat for long offshore passages, despite the fact I probably won’t ever do one this long again. We We are getting low on diesel now, the heater uses a fair bit, we have 50 litres (ish) in the tank, and 40 on deck. So we are rationing the heating, and not running the engine unless essential. In retrospect I would have liked to have loaded another 60 litres on board in Japan, but it’s too late for that now. I intend to fit a fuel flow rate meter at some point so I can monitor usage better and work out the optimum revs for speed/consumption. We should be fine, just less lounging around in the cabin in t-shirts and shorts 😉
We adjusted the clocks again today, having travelled another 15 degrees East. We are now on Honolulu time, which is 10 hours before GMT/UTC. Our daily run would have been 136 NM before that change, which isn’t too bad.
If you have read Kathy’s blog entry yesterday, you will see she has modestly pointed out her slim victory in scrabble.
Paul Collister