Commanders Weather Corporation
Monday 14:20, 10.29.07

From: Commanders’ Weather Corporation
Route: Papeete, Tahiti to Puerto Montt, Chile
Est position: 36° 02S 120° 05W at approx 2100utc Sunday, October 28, 2007
Prepared: 1420 utc Monday, October 29, 2007

Summary

Your weather this week will be dominated by a deepening high pressure currently centered just to your E, near 35S/111W

In conjunction with a complex area of low pressure to your SW that is expected to deepen this week 2) the high is expected to slide to the E over the next few days to be near 37S/96W by 00utc on Nov 1 at about 1034MB

The low to your SW is forecast to intensify as it slides SE to be near 55S/135W and about 950MB by 00utc on the 1st

Between these two weather features, your winds will build out of the N-NNW beginning today

They will continue to slowly back into the beginning of next week

Think the wind speeds will build to around 25-30kts, with higher gusts around 40kts, over the next few days e) then lighten by the end of the week, as you move closer to the center of the high which is expected to be near 35S/95W by 00utc on the 3rd

Longer range forecast shows your winds continuing to back out of the W and then SW on the 4th and 5th

As a cold front slides across you on a mainly rhumbline route toward Puerto Montt

Possible light WNW winds on the 4th should be replaced with winds backing out of the W to SW as you head toward the coast

Can expect gusty and squally conditions on the W to SW winds with 20-40kts and seas probably building to 13-18ft

Routing

Kept you on a general rhumbline toward Puerto Montt at about 200 nm/day

Might have to adjust your routing for the last 3 days, as the stronghigh catches up to you

Routed you around 170nm/day in lighter winds on Friday, but usually figured you for 200 nm/day

Wind forecasts
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, and time is UTC

Mon Oct 29
00: 280-260/15-23 g30 nr 34S/178 10E
06: 280-260/14-22 g30
12: 270-250/12-20 g25
Weather: Variably to mostly cloudy, slight chc of a shower
Seas building to 6-8ft during the day, SW swell

Tue Oct 30
00: 350-330/15-23 g30 near 36 10S/118 50W
06: 350-330/18-25 g30
12: 350-330/18-26 g30
18: 340-320/ 20-28 g35
Weather: Variably to mostly cloudy, slight chc of a shower
Seas building to 7-10 ft, SW swell

Wed Oct 31
00: 340-320/ 23-30 g40 near 37S/115W
06: 340-320/ 20-26 g35
12: 340-320/ 20-25 g35
18: 330-310/ 18-25 g30
Weather: Variably to mostly cloudy, increased chc shower/squall
Seas 8-11ft SW swell

Thu Nov 1
00: 330-310/ 20-28 g35 near 37 40S/111W
12: 330-310/ 20-25 g35
Weather..Variably cloudy, scattered showers/squalls
Seas becoming 10-12ft SW swell

Fri Nov 2
00: 330-310/20-25 g35 near 38 30S/107W
12: 320-300/17-24 g30
Weather..Variably cloudy, scattered showers/squalls
Seas building to 11-14ft, SW swell

Sat, Nov 3
00: 320-300/15-23 g30 near 39 30S/102 30W
12: 300-280/20-25 g35
Weather..Variably cloudy, scattered showers/squalls
Seas 13-16 ft, mostly SW swell

Location 37° 00S, 116° 57W
Monday 10.29.2007

The Schooner Maggie B was at 37° 00S, 116° 57W at noon on October 29th. We were rushing along at 9.0 knots directly on the Great Circle route to Puerto Montt. The wind was NW at 17-19 knots, essentially right on our port beam. There is a medium level thin overcast, but the sun is still fairly warm through it.

We have come 2935 NM from Rangiroa and have 2016 NM to go to Puerto Montt.

It looks as if we will have a marvelous ride the next five days. We have a big high (1034 Mb) centered about 700 NM in front of us and a deep low (950 Mb) about 1100 NM South of us. We should keep a Northerly 15-30 knot breeze right on our beam for the next five days, which should move us half the remaining way to Chile. We reefed the main down one reef after lunch and will consider doing the same to the fore before dark.

When we get to 9-10 knots in the Maggie B, a faint hum develops. Technically it is probably some interface with the centerboard, but we all think that is is just the hum of happiness.

The Captain has to make tough decisions. That comes with the job. Last night there was a big one. When I came on watch at midnight, I was presented with the dilemma of choosing between a slice of Hannah’s fruit pie or her cinnamon cake to go with my cup of Earl Grey tea. Showing the deep experience of a Blue Water Skipper, with a nod to Solomon, I took have a slice of each….

Jodi Farrar, Robert’s wife, sent us a blessing that I wanted to share:

“……..Sure and may there lie a sea before you,
the likes of which have never been sailed before,
inviting you to proceed without interruption, upheaval, or
problems in a steady flowing motion, without jolts or interruptions,
in honor of the greatness that is upon your vessel.”

All is well.