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July 8, 1999
Hawaii to Tarawa Voyage, Update #69
Day 66. Thursday, 8 July 1999 0309 GMT
Wind E-ENE - 4. Heading 270M
Latitude: 01deg 01.507N
Longitude: 177deg 12.028E
Apart from the odd occasional rain shower that creeps up from behind and catches us unawares, the optimum conditions continue. This final approach into Tarawa is quite critical as far as keeping good alignment. The closer we get, the less opportunity there will b it is difficult to predict what the ocean and the wind will be doing on the last couple of days. Right now we are purposely too far south in order to cut below the counter-current and make optimum use of the westward current. According to the pilot charts for this ocean region at this time of year, there is a 31% chance of the wind coming from the ESE, 10% from the ENE and 53% from the E. So bearing in mind we've had a good 15knot ENE wind for 3 days now, I'm banking on the wind shifting before long to the E or the ESE which will compensate for our southerly position by pushing us back north. Then again the wind might do nothing of the sort. Then we'll have to grind our way back north by sweat alone.
At the end of the day it's all a big guessing game and hopefully Lady Luck will be on our side. I think one can tie oneself up in knots sometimes trying to rationally figure out the right move to make on nature. It is after all in essence Chaos. Perhaps at this final stage its better just to let go of the reins and allow the boat to find its own way home. Feel the way from within rather than try and nail it all down with too much dry scientific method.
Jason Lewis,
The Moksha motor
Posted on July 8, 1999 5:42 AM