Around 1408, says the logbook, we lifted the hook and motored towards the reef’s exit supported by the genoa.

Once out, we set the main with reef 1 and the genoa fully. TWS is 14 – 18 KN or the 5 Bft range. At an AWA of 50 deg PRT we are running almost 9 KN STW. The swell is not too high.

Still, I increased the AWA to 65 deg PRT. Now MaRe runs mainly around 9.5 KN STW. I’ll keep this AWA and hope the wind turns from SE to ESE. For short moments ESE was displayed. An indication or wishful thinking?

SV Donella left about an hour before us. It seems she is sailing higher into the wind. She’s a monohull. Unfortunately she doesn’t have an active AIS, which means they receive our AIS data (among others, position, COG, SOG) but can’t send their own data.

We are all prepared and are enthusiastic about the last leg to NZ.