Location 34° 15S, 125° 28W
Friday 10.26.2007

The Schooner Maggie B was at 34° 15S 125° 28W at noon on October 26th. We were sailing at 6.7 knots with full main and fore and The Bird G2 gennaker up. The wind is from the NW at 11-14 knots. A long swell is making up from the SW and there is a high overcast filling in. We are headed about 100 degrees magnetic (125 True) along the Great Circle course for Puerto Montt.

We have come 2465 NM from Rangiroa and have 2463 to go to Puerto Montt.

We are just skirting the SW side of the building high, which will remain a factor for the next several days. The big low to the SW is too far away and South to affect us, but a front off of it should bring us a good breeze early next week. The full report from Commanders will soon be up on the web site, but here is an interesting quote:

“3) I would not oppose going down to 40s if you were game for NNW 25-40 kts in the Tue-Wed period
a) but point out that details of the guidance 4-5 days out may be less than precise
b) also, in this remote part of the ocean, cannot find detailed model output on pressure and wind field from US Navy or other models that we often use to sanity check the workhorse GFS model - i.e. no second opinion
4) suggest we take another look by Mon-Tue”

We will be down at 37-39 South by Tuesday and will certainly keep our eyes open and consult with Commanders again in a few days. Earlier I described catching a low or its attendant front is like the timing to catch a bus. Rather it is perhaps more like catching a ride on a freight train, as in getting your timing or positioning wrong can be serious.

Analyzing the halyard block problem…

We have had a very interesting analysis of our breaking throat halyard block problem from the Atelier of Nigel Irens. It is a bit over my head. I will post it on the web site as soon I get permission. The essence of the analysis is that the gaff INCREASES the load on the throat, not decreases it. Conventional thought is that the throat tightens the luff and carries part of the strain of the sail, with the gaff and peak halyards carrying a full share. The new analysis is that the very vertical gaff has a significant downward force vector that increases the load on the throat. Looking at it now, it seems obvious. The analysis also emphasizes that a single triple block is getting pulled at least three different ways at the same time, which would further reduce an otherwise “pure” breaking load.

About two weeks to go to Puerto Montt.

All is well.