Tough Sledding!

0600PDT, 29.04 N, 122.20 W, Wind 0 - 2 knot @ 270, Cloud Cover 20 %, Bar 1011, 24 hour run 102 nm, DTF 1975 nm.

I have spent the last few weeks wishing I was a part of the onboard crew but last night - and I even got up a few times to check if there was any better news - I was just as happy to be in my bed! And during that shift I made about the same distance as they did!

They remain stuck in an unusual little bit of high pressure which is rubbing up against the normal Pacific High (Transpac weather maker) and the friction is cancelling out any wind in the exact area where our boys are slating (and have been for a while now). But they can't be blamed. To get where they are going there was just no logical way around it and so, along with the rest of the fleet at sea, they ran right into it hoping that it would either not be there when they arrived, would move on soon after they got there or get absorbed by the bigger normal weather pattern that is developing to the north.

This morning Alaska Eagle is motor sailing because as Communications Vessel they have a rough deadline to keep. They reported coming upon one of the boats in the fleet last night and seeing all of its running lights - several time! Funny guys but it underscores the frustration those at sea must be feeling.

And things don't look any better for the 50's who start off Point Fermin today. That same little bit of high pressure that NE/Plan B are stuck in extends most of the way back to the beach. The only good news for our team is that at least they are nearing the down course side of it. Those starting today look to still have all that light wind ahead of them. And, like the first start, south and even east of south appears to be the only way to get to Hawaii - other than a 747.

And the winds here, which has been so consistently strong day and night since they started, are generated by the same High Pressure system that Plan B is relying on for the great slide (still coming) into Hawaii.

By a combination of them sailing southish and the farthest eastern extent of the ridge moving northish (pretty fast too) I think it should be passing over them soon. Depending on the speed of each, the way I read the GRIBs, suggests that they should be out the other side, which usually heralds better sailing conditions sometime tonight.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for them. I think they are probably ready for a little excitement.

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