Arrived Honolulu

We left Nuka Hiva April 11 bound for Honolulu 2300 miles to the NW. There was little wind as we headed up the lee side of the island, and we motored most of the way up. As we cleared the island the wind came at us just forward of the beam at about 22 to 26 knots the rest of the day. Tagish had 2 reefs in the main and a third of the genoa out and our staysail up. We like to use the staysail when the wind is forward of the beam.

The next 3 days were similar with winds occasionally to 30 knots, good but vigorous sailing , making great progress North. We are trying to stay on the 140 deg of longitude so as not to lose any of our easting to make for a easier time of it when we get into the NE trades above the equator. By April 14 as we neared the equator the wind was easing and becoming more fit full though with still some good sailing. A large pod of dolphins swam with us for a half hour today. Had a few squalls go by with winds to 30 knots.

April 15 we watched a

full lunar eclipse during the night. the moon became a coppery color and it got much darker outside. The eclipse lasted over an hour and then the moon slowly became uncovered. It was amazing that we saw it as we have had so much cloudy and squally weather.

After a night of squalls and rolling the genoa in and out many times, the genoa finally gave up. A big squall came up fast after dark when it's hard to see them coming. We were a bit slow getting the genoa in and that little bit of flogging in the strong winds was enough to tear the old sail right along the edge of the suncover. The clew tore out, making a 35 foot rip up one edge of the sail and a 2 foot rip along the foot. This sail was 7 years old and took us around the world so it did us pretty good, though I had hoped it would get us home. This was serious, we had just lost half our sail power and we were only 400 miles into a 2300 mile passage. The damage would be very difficult to repair as there is a huge strain on the clew where the lines are attached. Also not sure if we would even have enough repair material to sew such a huge rip. The other option was to cut off all the damage and put a big knot for a new clew in the corner and use sail in light winds. We would decide if we got desperate. No wasting food now, save everything.

The next day and night was squalls every hour or so and lots of rain, really crappy weather. Our staysail is now our main headsail and due to the constant squalls we just left 2 reefs in the main. We are now very close to the equator and motoring off and on to keep boat moving and get further north and into NE trades which we hoped to pickup by 5 deg N. April 17 the squalls have stopped for now but winds very light. Sailing slowly or motoring. Late the next day we entered a dark wall of clouds that extended in both directions as far as you could see, this at about 2 deg N now. The rain then started, but only 10 knots of wind, still motoring off and on.

We got a call on the VHF radio from a Japanese long liner fishing about 10 miles away. He could see us on his radar he said, which amazed me as there was so much rain clutter. He asked us not to go west of 140 deg as there was two boats fishing with long lines. Still little wind and our poor main sail is banging more than ever as there is a big swell running now. We woke up one morning to find our 2 year old mainsail had developed a 3 foot vertical split in the belly of the sail, between the 1st and 2nd reef points. We could still use it but would have to be very careful.

The next day we only did 65 miles as a light north wind came up right on the nose, to slow us even more. Then almost right on 5 deg N a light NE wind developed, finally this is what we were waiting for. In this area of the Pacific, you can often almost sail right through the doldrums, but we hit it bad and the doldrums seemed to go on for ever. Not sure how much of what we had was doldrums and how much was just bad weather. The next day or so it stayed cloudy, but we had enough wind to sail and occasionally very brisk winds that moved us along nicely. Still lots of rain and squalls with winds around 25 knots. Next evening had a gale that blew for about 10 hours with 30 to 40 knots. Only had 3rd reef in main and our small staysail up. Still getting squalls after this ended with winds 35 to 40 knots. At least we don't have to keep rolling our headsail in and out as we no longer have one. Then more gale force winds most of next night. Had 3rd reef in main for almost 3 days. This has been our 6th equator crossing and definitely our worst.

April 25. The sun is out finally and no squalls lurking. Winds are NE 30 plus knots. But that's good we are moving and don't need a headsail. staysail and reefed main work great. But seas are big and rough so life is pretty basic on the boat now as hard to move around. Next couple of days are similar and some times it would blow so hard we would have to help the self steering as would round up into the wind during strong gusts, don't know what windspeed got up to sometimes. We tried to repair our mainsail one day, but it was difficult in the rough conditions and the repair came undone.

When wind eases we would put up the storm jib. Since we had no genoa now we had removed it off the roller furler a few days ago during a calm period. I tied a number of small piece of rope loosely around the roller furler foil, enough for ever 2nd hank on the storm jib and we hoisted the storm jib up the foil. This worked amazingly well, maybe because of the slot effect with the staysail, but anytime we put it up our speed would pickup by about a knot, it pulled like a trooper.

The weather is still pleasant on April 28, and 29 we have the 3rd reef out finally and back to the 2nd reef and where we will leave it due to the rip in first reef. The strong winds have allowed us to make several days of over a 100 miles. We are slowing now with about 450 miles to go. Did a 87 mile day and a 67 mile day, we are missing our genoa. When winds got real light we risked taking the 2nd reef out up to the 1st reef. Weather still nice did a 107 mile day in better winds.

The wind died almost completely with 130 miles left, so we started the engine for the first time in a long time. Then the winds went dead calm later. Ended up motoring the rest of the way to Honolulu. It was a welcome sight as we approached the entrance and motored into Ala Wai boat basin. I tied up on the old fuel dock and checked with the Hawaii yacht club for moorage and they said we could stay for a few days. Then we could move into Ala Wai marina. Arrived May 6 8am- 25 days at sea.

INFO

- We phoned custom from a courtesy phone at HYC and they came out to boat and later we had to go to there office to pay a $19 fee and finish process. A quarantine officer also came out to boat.

-Waypoint for our dock in Hawaii Yacht club. 21 17.17N 157 50.55W and entrance wp to Boat basin
 is 21 16.55N 157 50.79W

-We moved later to Ala Wai marina rite beside HYC but they want to do a inspection first and also you must to a run out of the harbor to a buoy and back to show your engine works.  This place is the most buerocratice marina in the world that I have seen.  The inspection checks for coast guard saftey things, epirbs.  They ask what is horsepower of engine, weird, just to stay in the marina.  You initial every rule on a peice of paper to show you have read them all.  But everyone is friendly,  the HYC is very friendly and nice place to stay.