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Too Much or Too Little

We're keeping a close eye on the weather forecast and preparing for a bit of a blow. The GRIBs all suggest that the wind will be southeasterly, which should make for a fast ride over the final 1000 nautical miles and perhaps we can smash the 200nm a day record. We're still on track to turn west by tonight and catch the wind starting to blow first thing tomorrow and bring it over the port quarter.

The weather at the moment is fantastic, with clear skies, a few fluffy clouds, and 10-14 knots of breeze. There's no sign of what's coming around the corner. We're motor sailing to make as many miles as possible, which goes against my sailor instincts, but we're gaining around 30 nautical miles a day with the engine running.

Yesterday evening, I found myself being hoisted up the mast again, an activity that's never pleasant, even in the safety of a marina. But at sea, with a partially raised mainsail swaying above me, the task becomes even more daunting. The upcoming blogs might be a bit shorter than usual as we navigate the treacherous passage through the Tuamotus which is going to be compounded by the aproaching foul weather.

If you haven't already, I strongly recommend taking a look at Google Earth or a nautical chart to get a sense of the challenges we'll be facing. The Tuamotus are a vast archipelago scattered with countless reefs and atolls, stretching for hundreds of miles. Navigating through this labyrinth is akin to rally driving on ice during a 7.5 earthquake, all while caught in a cyclone with the car windows wide open. It's a daunting prospect, but we're determined to tackle it head-on.

A picture showing where we are now, where we will be tomorrow and our turn west and an rough route - (not to be used for navigation). 

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