The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson
Sailing Yacht Truce
Well I did jinx my good fortune. At daybreak this morning the wind went AWOL. We have been left floundering around, sails slating, constantly trimming trying to get some motion in the right direction. I should know better – when things are going well – keep quiet about it! The Meteorologist in Hawaii said this... Continue Reading →
I don’t want to jinx my good fortune but we are still running with Jib poled out to port directly down the track to Hilo. If the wind holds true we will be arriving early on Tuesday morning. This morning I turned again to bread making. I used a new method I thought up that’s... Continue Reading →
Looking at the log book for last night I see I was having a hard time. Sails up and down, in and out, tacking, gybing and engine on. Sometimes reducing sail as going too fast and others just no wind. I was surprised to find we had covered 109 miles noon to noon, a commendable... Continue Reading →
All through the night and up to one this afternoon we had a beautiful sail. Steady wind twelve to sixteen knots and running very comfortably towards Hilo at between five and six knots. Then suddenly the wind stopped blowing. We went around in circles a few times and then nix, nada, nothing. By four in... Continue Reading →
This morning after breakfast I rigged up the spinnaker pole and flew the jib out to the port side. We are now sailing on a course of 240 degrees direct for Hilo. If the wind holds good we will be there in a few days. Sailing downwind with the jib poled out is very relaxing. ... Continue Reading →
Last night around nine I turned toward the south on run down to Hawaii. We still have big swells for a couple of days and then it gradually subsides the further south we go. Today has been perfect weather (apart from mountains of swells rolling us around), sunshine, clear skies, sparkling seas – just like... Continue Reading →
A beautiful sunrise this morning over a rumbustious Pacific, blowing strong from the north east with large swells running through. The sunrise turned into blue skies, fluffy Simpson clouds, sunshine and sparkling seas. A morning round of the deck revealed no flying fish aboard. One did fly into the cockpit last night and I flipped... Continue Reading →
Last night the winds were up down and all about. Whatever I did with the sails the wind then undid. In the end I just set the staysail and let Truce go where she wanted, it was far more comfortable. Around three in the morning the cloud cover cleared to reveal all the heavens above. ... Continue Reading →
For the fourth night in a row we had the crazy winds and seas as the sun went down. This time I was ready with the triple reefed main and staysail set before it hit. I am unable to explain it, I have never experienced it before. Last night the wind didn’t get above 25... Continue Reading →
Time flies when you’re having fun. I just realised its eight days since I left san Francisco. Days at sea run into each other, there is no demarcation or need for holidays or weekends. When I look at the daily progress on the chart it seems so small but its steady and relentless, day and... Continue Reading →
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 