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June 26, 1999
Hawaii to Tarawa Voyage, Update #54
Day 54. Saturday 26 June 1999 0336 GMT
Wind ESE 4knots. Heading 225M.
Latitude: 03deg 02.945N
Longitude: 178deg 54.918W
Even late last night before turning in I could feel the ocean beginning to change, and by the time I crawled out of the rat-hole at first light this morning I knew by the heavy rhythm of Moksha's rocking that we were at last in the southeast trades. It's a good feeling. One of closure to the ITCZ section and the start of what I hope to be the concluding chapter to this voyage.
Apart from the familiar wave motion that has yet to get back on my nerves like it inevitably will in a few days, the most noticeable change has to be the clouds that up until yesterday were dark, swollen sponges filled with rain patrolling the ocean for small, yellow pedal boats on which to squeeze out their load. Today, in comparison, the light blue sky is tastefully decorated with little fluffy clouds that almost skip from one horizon to the other like dainty, white-frocked fairies. My heart feels light to match, due in part to the 225M heading we are now able to take, signifying the beginning of the final run into Tarawa. This will however not necessarily be as easy as one might think, on account of the ESE wind and swell - that has bordered at times today on SE - that is intent on pushing us back north. We can only pray for predominant easterlies, with the odd occasional ENE as a treat. We have a good ratio of miles south versus west in hand: for just under every 5 miles west we have to make 1 south. But this is a margin that could be whittled down quickly with a few days of ESE. So, it seems the ocean is intent upon us fighting for every last inch of south we need to reach Tarawa.
Jason Lewis,
The Moksha motor
Posted on June 26, 1999 2:17 AM