May 6, 2016

Position: 26 59.97 S, 171 8.44 E
May 6, 2016
We have entered the leading edge of the low. It’s giving us quite the ride, as promised! We’ve cracked off to let the wind come over the stern at a 120 degree angle to the boat. It’s blowing us further west than I’d like, but the comfort is worth it! I just poked my head out the hatch and the comparison of the world above and below decks is shocking. Below, it feels like we’re sitting in a somewhat rolly anchorage, but no major complaints. Above, the waves are cresting up over the stern pulpit and the wind is shrieking through the rigging. It is a godforsaken night at sea. Thankfully Privateer is such a great boat and Kelsey & Taz are sleeping peacefully & comfortably in their bunks. I’m on Captain’s watch tonight, and will probably remain on station here until the winds abate tomorrow (hopefully) late morning. Earlier in the day we had a very close pass with an Asian fishing trawler. Despite repeated attempts to hail them on VHF radio, they continued altering course toward us for one hour! We were under full sail and somewhat limited with our maneuvering. I got a bit spooked, as we are in international high-seas waters (the lawless kind). Eventually the 150-foot trawler came within 1/3 of a nautical mile of us—way too close for an ocean pass in my book. Kelsey and I are always on the lookout for fishing ships any time we’re sailing outside of the 250-mile shore limit. The Pacific Ocean is crawling with these dirty vessels, many of which keep slave labor as crew and often fish illegally. And just an hour ago a sister ship came up on us in the same way! It’s hard to imagine that given the multi-millions of empty square miles out here, that two boats would chance to occupy the same spot of ocean at the same time. Also on the subject of occupying a random point on the ocean, Privateer crossed over her southbound-to-NZ track line today, meaning that there’s one place out of infinite places out here that Privateer has been to TWICE now. It’s common knowledge, perhaps, but sailing out here on the ocean day after day makes you realize how impossibly vast the ocean really is. It’s not just a patch of blue on Google Earth, reduced by technology. The ocean is still as infinite as it always has been. I just realized that on my first night out of NZ I wore my woolen long-johns on the night watch, but I soon put them away and haven’t worn a thread of clothing since then, except for my underwear! I’m going through the extra-ratty pairs on this trip and tossing them into the ocean when they get salted from the spray. Saves on laundry, and creates space in my clothes locker ? We’re headed for the tropics anyhow… 4am May 7 We’re passing through the squall field associated with the low pushing toward us. The Monitor decided this was the moment to act up a bit! We rounded up in some 30 knot gusts and took major water over the decks, filling the cockpit like a swimming pool. I quickly jumped out and re-adjusted the wind vane leads to get us back on a 120 degree wind angle. We’re screaming along now at 8-9 knots under storm staysail. It’s a great angle of sail and we’re making way on a direct course for Tanna now. The bigger squalls bring torrential rains, giving the rigging & deck a much-needed freshwater rinse! The decks smell sweet. Taz thought the whole episode was pretty entertaining. When we do deck work at night we flood the boat with LED spotlights. Taz excitedly pointed up at the arch light, saying “Moon, Moon, Moon!” I certainly wish we did have a moon tonight. It’s right around the new moon, and with the squalls, the ocean is inky black tonight. Morning light will come as sweet relief. By afternoon the winds are forecast to blow through, and we may have to get under engine power for a while.

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