Hard on the Wind in the South Pacific

At the advice of our weather router, Rick aka WeatherGuy, we are trying to sail as far East as possible before our equator crossing. This is increasing the mileage we have to travel (he wants us 240nm East of where we were going to cross) and slowing us down some. But I suppose it will be made up for on the other side. By the way, there are no "red flags" weatherwise for this passage, which is great. Our challenge to him was to get us to Seattle without having to sail in sustained winds greater than 30kts. Let's see how well he does.

The weather has been fantastic the past two days - sunny and warm, and no more squalls. Yea! That, combined with the still perfectly functioning windvane steering gear, has left loads of time fir Cindy and I to just hang out in the cockpit and talk and enjoy the weather, while Nemo sleeps comfortably below. We are both now pretty salt-encrusted from the continuous fine spray of seawater coming over the windward side into the cockpit. We both also have a bit of sunburn as well.

We are currently sailing under single-reefed mains'l, working jib, and stays'l. We are maintaining about 5.5kts average speed, trying to maintain a course of 027T. Our position as of 1912 local time tonight is 07deg 46.7S, 148deg 44.8W.