AIRMAIL YOTREPS
IDENT: WDF4288
TIME: 2010/10/16 00:00
LATITUDE: 43-37.351N
LONGITUDE: 133-22.67W
COMMENT: Partly to mostly cloudy, air 58°F, sea 61°F (corrected temperatures), 1026 mb, wind light/variable, 0.7m swell from NW with no wind waves.

As you will note from the report above Sarah Sarah has positioned herself under the benign influence of a high pressure system (1026 mb) to complete her passage. Boat and crew are well, and plans are being coordinated for friends and family to meet her as she makes landfall.

Yesterday’s forecast from Rick Shema follows including a portion of the weather detail which we have been omitting:

Hi Bill:

Thank you for sending the YOTREPS yesterday. Much appreciated.

1. Weather Summary as of 15 October 2010 1200Z.
Little change in weather pattern since yesterday. High pressure ridge is
over your route producing variable wind direction 10 kts or less. Wave
heights mostly Werly swell at 1.5m. Wind waves 0.5m or less.

An approaching cold front from the west will stay to your west and does not
impact your transit.

Sky: Partly to mostly cloudy.

2. Route:
Continue on rhumbline course to Cape Flattery. Remaining route heads nearly
down center axis of ridge. Perfect timing. Could not ask for anything
better.

3. Forecast:
Distance made good from 14Oct00Z to 15Oct00Z is ~240nm for an average SOG of
10.0 kts. Will forecast 10.0 kt SOG until Cape Flattery (emphasis added – SD).

Your 15Oct1200Z position was estimated at 42 30N 135 40W

Twd=Magnetic wind direction; Tws=True wind speed; Twa=True wind angle;
EP=Estimated position

UTC                      Twd°M   Tws     Twa     Rain    Latitude          Longitude       Remarks
10/15/2010 12:00        337°    5-10    -55°    0.01    42 30.000n      13540.000w   EP
10/15/2010 15:51        341°    2-7     -52°    0           42 55.493n      13500.473w
10/15/2010 17:47        048°    0-5     16°     0.01      43 08.153n      13440.504w

The key elements are true wind angle and strength as they control comfort.

Rick’s ability to pick the right time to depart is  obviously a key element in the easy passage Sarah Sarah has enjoyed, The other, as we have been saying, is her ability to maintain an average speed commensurate with the forecast. This is not just about horsepower and fuel burn. Equally important is the physical and mental comfort of the crew, and their ability to function at speed. Both Wind Horse and Sarah Sarah are typically more comfortable going faster than slower, so that leaves the decision making process of skipper and crew as the final piece of the puzzle. Obviously they are up to speed as well.