It's been another challenging night on board as we make our way to Phuket. The wind has been playing tricks on us, changing direction and speed without warning. Sometimes it dies off completely, leaving us with a sluggish sail and a quiet engine. Other times it picks up suddenly, filling the sails with a gust and pushing us along at a brisk pace.
We are currently sailing at 7 knots with a little over 15 knots of wind over the quarter. That's not bad for this time of the year, when the monsoon season is starting to kick in. But for now, we have to head a little further west than I would like, to keep the apparent wind up and avoid banging sails.
The sea state is moderate, with some swell and chop. Nothing too uncomfortable, but enough to keep us alert and on our toes. The boat is handling well, with a balanced helm and a steady course. The autopilot is doing most of the work, but we check it regularly and make minor adjustments as needed.
The night sky is clear, with a bright moon and countless stars. It's a beautiful sight, but also a bit deceiving. The moonlight makes it easier to see the horizon and any potential hazards, but I suspect fishing boats don't use their lights at full moon when they are moving around. I have to rely on the radar and the AIS to spot any traffic or obstacles. So far, I've only seen one fishing boat, which passed us at a safe distance but had no AIS and didn't show up on the radar until 2nm.
I hope it stays this way for the rest of the day. I'm on the watch, 6am to 10am . I enjoy this shift, as it gives me some time to myself and a chance to reflect on the day.
I'm looking forward to reaching Phuket, where we will deliver Harmony. It's been a great trip so far, with some memorable moments and experiences. But it's also been hard work, with long hours and little rest.
But for now, I have to focus on the task at hand: sailing to Sabang!