Lat. 33.59 S Long 163.46 W Course 105 T Speed 6.5 knots Wind NE 15-20 knots Waves NE 2.5 metres Cloud 100% Barometer 1002 steady
Distance in last 24hrs: 110 nm Range to Rarotonga: 793
Day 13 Friday December 9, 2016
7:50 am
The gale force winds I was expecting last night mercifully did not materialize. When I turned in last night I was very tired. Conditions were light so I didn’t put up more sail. I thought the wind would increase which meant I likely wouldn’t have to get up and reduce sail in the pitch black of a dark and stormy night. Since the gale never came, our run last night was short a few miles but the good news is I had a great sleep and I’m more than fine with that.
Been a busy morning with domestics here, cleaning the cabin sole and generally organizing things. In a small space it can get out of hand pretty quickly. Everything feels organized now which helps with my general mental state. There is a heavy low grey cloud cover and the sea is a dark steely colour, not too rough but a short chop that has WW II hobby horsing a bit, giving me whiplash here at the nav station.
I’m off now to make breakfast. I’m going for oats this morning. However, remembering the last fiasco with cooking oats maybe the liquid food supplement is the better choice. I did manage to quarter an orange and I still have all my fingers.
I went to bed with the adventures of Huck Finn last night and I will meet him on the Mississippi again this morning. Right now it is a good light read just what I need. Bill Bryson’s “A Short History of Nearly Everything is on hold for now but I’ll get back at it. I’m surprised how very random life is in Bill’s description of world events. Happenstance plays a bigger role in life than I thought. I’m also appalled at how mean humanity can be to its fellow man.
Noon
Came over to port tack an hour ago anticipating a shift to the west but it’s not a good fit at the moment so will be going back on starboard tack after I send this off. My course is 330 T. We’ll see if the wind comes around to the NW then I’ll come back to port tack. Getting warmer here.
All’s well and I hope the same for you all.
Hi Glenn….I’m following your journey with interest and sending positive thoughts for wind and seas that bring you smoothly home to family and friends. Like Joseph wrote before me, I cannot properly grasp the vastness of the ocean nor the length of your trip. From my limited boating experiences, I thought getting to the Broughtons was a “really long trip!!” Hope you wake up to the wind you want and enough calm to have a tasty breakfast.
Love to see your progress on the map, Glenn, as you close in on that Rarotonga waypoint…. It’s like looking at the deeper Wakefield Constellation, all those position points against that dark blue background.
Glad to hear you’re moving in to warmer temperatures. That’s got to be good for body and soul.
Thanks Georgina. Could do with some of that warmth right now.
Glad for good night’s sleep and shortened sail!
Messrs Wakefield, Perkins & Fleming,
S.V.West Wind ll
South Pacific Ocean
Dear Sirs,
Top of the morning to you all! Glad to hear of your steady progress northward. Wishing you much more of the same.
Sincerely,
P. Brand Esquire
It takes a village!
Thanks Peter. Knowing him as we do, I can picture him in the cockpit in the morning calling ‘crew’ meetings to discuss the weather and then assigning watches to Perkins and Fleming.
Hi Glenn, we’re really enjoying following along as you journey homeward! On the subject of books, I am wondering if you have ever read “The Dove” by Robin Lee Graham with Derek Gill, all about Robin’s five-year around the world voyage, 1965-1970. He also wrote a followup, “Home is the Sailor”. Both books are quite fascinating and I’m sure that you and Robin have a lot in common! Safe travels!
Thanks Lisa. Let’s just say this … Glenn has every significant volume on sailing ever written in particular the classics including Dove which he has read a number of times. They’re his inspiration. He had many volumes on Kim Chow that he lost when he had to leave her at Cape Horn and he is slowly replacing the much loved ones.
I don’t think I have any idea of the vastness of the open seas. It is mind-boggling when I try to imagine what a tiny speck WWII is. Then I try to fathom the intense love Glenn must have for the sea and the interaction with it’s many moods and surprises. It must be a cruel mistress…both offering unmeasured, soul soothing beauty and then, reminding everyone daring to sail, who’s in charge, turning into an angry, powerful master. The most daring thing I’ve ever done was travel from Toronto to Australia (by plane) when I met a skinny 19 year old Glenn Wakefield in Fiji November, 1969. Seems like 100 years ago but closer to 50. Let’s get together 2019 for a reunion!