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July 13, 1999
Hawaii to Tarawa Voyage, Update #75
Day 71. Tuesday, 13 July 1999 0216 GMT
Wind ESE-S 3-4. Heading 180M
Latitude: 01deg 20.767N
Longitude: 173deg 48.998E
Today is turning out pear shaped. Since 5am we've been beating due south against a 0.8 knot current running north and the wind which to my amazement has been blowing a brisk 10 mph from the south for three hours now. Its just what I was hoping wouldn't happen on the final run into the island. The forecast was for an ENE-E 5mph wind yesterday and today.
This is what I was banking on to take us back south again. But there is still no sign of this wind and I'm starting to be a little concerned as to whether we will be able to make it the 6 miles back to clearing line of latitude (1 degree 15 minutes N) before hitting the east coast of Tarawa - 40 miles to the west - towards which we are slowly but steadily drifting at a rate of 1.2 knots. Pedaling into the wind is terrible for the legs, the pedal unit and the morale. But at this 11nth hour stage there no is choice. Putting out a sea anchor would mean slowly drifting backwards and eventually ending up on the reef of eastern Tarawa. At least ploughing into the waves we are just about holding our own.
When I am not pedaling - like now - we are drifting north at about 1.5knots, so this will be a brief update I'm afraid. It's all or nothing at this point. I'm damned if we come this far to either end up on a reef or have to be pulled in by a motor boat. My main source of inspiration right now is roaring obscenities into the south wind. It seems to make my legs go round a little quicker.
By the way. If you need an excuse to crack the cork on another bottle tonight, it's our 5th anniversary: 5 years to the day that Steve and I left Greenwich.
Now back to the grind...
Jason Lewis,
The Moksha motor
Posted on July 13, 1999 5:55 AM