19 March 2010
At last, at long last we have poled out the twin headsails. During the night the wind backed more easterly taking us south of our rhumb line course. We seized the opportunity of light winds this morning and busied ourselves with the task in hand. The first attempt ended in failure. As soon as we brought Voyageur dead downwind to fill the ballooner, winching in the sheet at the same time and it came floating gently and gracefully down like a butterfly landing on a leaf. The mouse at the top of the furler had not connected. Success was achieved the second time and hola! off we went. So easy when you know how. With any luck we can sail like this for the remainder of the passage to Marquesas, only taking in a reef if the wind increases. Lady Ev still with us through the night, raised their parasailor this morning. Noeluna are at exactly the same longitude as us also but 52nm further north. It will be interesting over the course of the next 24 hours to see the benefits if any, of our morning's labours. At least we are now heading in the right direction.....
Susan Mackay