The swell and breeze have died down slightly, and we're now experiencing fairly consistent mid-to-high 20 knots over the deck. We were well on our way to the elusive 200-nautical mile a day run, having covered 50 nautical miles in 6 hours, but victory seems to have slipped through our fingers. We've only managed 96 nautical miles in 12 hours, and our average speed has dropped to a disappointing 7.6 knots.
We're approaching the first atolls in the Tuamotus, and it's a toss-up at the moment whether we'll be able to see them. These atolls are incredibly low-lying, only a couple of feet above the water, with palm trees on top. I'd be happy to make a slight detour to sail past and take a look, but that decision will depend on the wind. I don't want to deviate from the wind by more than 120 degrees apparent.
We still have 300 nautical miles to go to clear the Tuamotus, and then it's a straight run to Tahiti. Unfortunately, the forecast suggests we might be flat off the wind for the final 350nm leg. Over the next couple of days, as the forecast becomes more refined, we can plan our final approach through the atolls and try to position ourselves for a more favorable wind angle.
I'm not expecting too much when we reach Tahiti. A modest parade would be nice, and I'm happy to forgo the stretch limousine. Only a few days of national holiday celebrations and a small brass band would be sufficient.
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