Sarah Sarah and her intrepid crew are entering their seventh day a sea from Hawaii. The predicted frontal passage has occurred, just a bit early. Boat speed and good weather routing now has Sarah Sarah positioned within the influence of a high pressure system. They should be able to make their landfall without further frontal boundaries and their gales.

A series  of e-mails between Rick Shema and Sarah Sarah follow. First, the boat to Rick with current conditions:

Rick;

We thought we’d give you an early, and more detailed, report of our recent weather conditions.

For the first time in memory since departing New Zealand, we’ve had the weather on our port beam for the past 12 hours, or so. During the night we encountered more-intense rain with high winds. The swells are currently about 1.7m from WNW, with the wind maybe about 18 kts. from about W.  During the past two hours we’ve had the barometer climb from 1014mb to 1023mb, the latter seeming to agree pretty closely with the GRIB data we obtained yesterday.

We look forward to your next update.

Thanks!

˜Crew of M/V “Sarah-Sarah”
—–
At 10/13/2010 4:49 PM (utc) our position was 37°55.68’N 142°55.93’W

Next is Rick’s reply:

Hi Bill:

I gathered from your surface pressure of 1023mb and NW winds, the cold front
has passed before 13Oct12Z.

A few hours ago I received your “Pre00Z” message position dated 13Oct
~04UTC. 

1. Weather Summary as of 13 October 2010 1200Z. 
High center nearly stationary near 40 00N 158 00W. NE extension of high
pressure ridge over your route strengthens. Gusty NW winds near 30 kts
abates and backs to SWerly to 5-10kt range by Thursday evening (15Oct0600Z).
Conditions generally around 10kts until Cape Flattery. Swell wave abate from
WNW 2.0m to W 1.5m. Wind waves abate from NW 2.0m to SW 0.5m.

2. Route: 
Continue on rhumbline course to Cape Flattery. 

3. Forecast:
According to YOTREPS, between 12Oct00Z and 13Oct00Z distance traveled in the
24hr period was about 240nm for an average of 10kts SOG. Will forecast 9.5
kt SOG due to higher winds on the port beam. 

Then a weather update based on the October 14th 000GMT data :

Hi Bill:

Your position report was received through YOTREPS. Should be smooth going.

1. Weather Summary as of 14 October 2010 1200Z. 
High center nearly stationary near 40 00N 156 00W. NE extension of high
pressure ridge over your route strengthens and forms another high cell near
50 00N 125 00W in 36 hrs (16Oct0000Z). Your route aligns roughly with this
ridge. Expect winds to abate to the 5-10kt range and variable direction.
Wave heights mostly Werly swell at 1.5m. Wind waves 0.5m.

An approaching cold front from the west does not impact your weather due to
the strong ridge.

2. Route: 
Continue on rhumbline course to Cape Flattery. 

3. Forecast:
According to YOTREPS, between 13Oct00Z and 14Oct00Z distance traveled in the
24hr period was about 230nm for an average of 9.6 kts SOG. Will forecast 9.5
kt SOG until Cape Flattery.

Another day will see a three quarters of the way party.