Location 38° 06S, 112° 53W
Tuesday 10.30.2007

At noon on October 30th, the Schooner Maggie B was at 38° 06S, 112° 53W. We were snorting along at 8.3 knots with full jib, one reef in the main and the fore furled up. The wind has been pretty steady at 310-320 degrees at 20-25 knots with gusts to 32. There is a medium high overcast but no rain, only occasional spray on the boat.

We have come 3119 NM since Rangiroa and have 1812 to go to Puerto Montt. We did 209 NM in the last 24 hours. It looks as if we will keep this ride through November 2nd. We should be within 1000 miles by then.

Last night at midnight we took in the fore. What was special about it was that it wasn’t anything special about it. The wind was steady at 25 knots with gusts to 32. The Maggie B was going hull speed and then some and though still pretty dry with the scuppers clear of the water, she felt over-pressed. All Hands were called at midnight, gear and harnesses went on quickly (over jammies), and we did a quick brief in the galley. Deck lights on, a dose of chocolate, and everyone went to their stations. One, two, three and down came the fore into the Lazy Jacks, to be tightly furled up and lashed down. The off watch were back in their bunks by 0030.

We spotted what looked like serious fraying along the leech of the fore, but today, on inspection, it appears to be only the sheath for the fore leech tension line, and not anything serious. We will be able to fly the sail when the wind abates and have it stitched up in Puerto Montt.

All is well.