We’re passed the halfway mark, both into the routine now.

Catching sleep in short breaks and feeling pretty chipper during the way. Meanwhile, the GFS model .GRB files from yesterday, which we were hoping might be wrong, were right. The wind is dead on the nose, from the northeast. The good news it is only blowing 12 to 14 knots. Waves are 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5m) with a southeasterly swell crossing, and Wind Horse is picking her way dead upwind with ladylike precision.

We’re still running at 1750 RPM. Speed through the water is down to 9.5 knots while speed over the ground, net of adverse current, is bouncing around the 9-knot mark. We are still looking for midmorning arrival in the pass at Fanning.

We could speed up of course, but this passage has been upwind since leaving Pago Pago, and this is a good chance to collect real-world fuel consumption data. Running at a constant RPM makes the data more accurate. Smooth water figures from our VPP projections and the tank testing are one thing, but this is the real world. To smooth water drag – which we know is pretty close – we need to add air conditioning going 24 hours a day, plus normal ship’s electrical requirements, hydraulics to operate the stabilizers, drag from the stabilizers themselves, windage, and rough water drag. This can add up to a substantial increase in fuel burn. So far, however, we are on target with our allowances. We’ll report more on this when we get anchored and have smooth water in which to calibrate tank contents.

Evidence that we’re starting to get our sea legs comes from several fronts. First, in the galley the production line has started. Linda is preparing a turkey meat loaf as this is being written.

Of course we still have those important staples of passaging, like toasted spelt pumpkin seed bread with crunchy peanut butter, soy margarine, and strawberry jam (no added sugar of course) – all of which comes from New Zealand.

Speaking of the galley, and stores in general, one of the things we are always concerned with is rolling cans and bottles. As the boat moves, if just one of these clinks back and forth, it can drive you nuts after a while. So we are careful with how this gear is stowed. The galley drawers, where the day-to-day inventory resides, have open space filled with dish towels. We are pleased to report that there is so little side-to-side motion that we have had very few rolling-related noises to chase down.