8am Bright and sunny, I noticed some towering cumulus clouds ahead to windward, with rain clearly falling from its base. Slowly, we drew closer and, for a time, I thought it would pass astern of us - but no. Our course changed with the veered wind and soon heavy rain was rinsing the boat off. I stayed watching from the companionway in case I needed to furl in some genoa as the wind increased but all passed without any great drama - just some increased heel and speed as we skirted the cloud until finally coming out into the sunshine again. Another far smaller rain cloud shortly after gave us more Easting in the veered wind and some more rinsing off but there was no more rain for the rest of the day.
Wind backed and, despite traveller and boom hauled to weather as much as possible, we could no longer make our N course but were forced NNW at 4kt or less over the rest of the day and into the evening.
7pm Dark. After sunset, Mercury was a faint object to the right of, and slightly higher than, Venus and the line joining them formed the base of an isosceles triangle with Jupiter at its apex. The moon was late rising - not seen near sunset, possibly due to cloud in E.
Satellite photos show it is clear ahead and weather fax shows the wind will be ENE for some days so we are likely to be forced further W.
24hr DMG to 2300GMT: 121n.ml. Strait of Juan de Fuca: 3140n.ml.; Midway Island: 879n.ml. (345T); Johnston Atoll: 252n.ml. (051T); Hawaii: 1024n.ml (071T)
From: KC2IOV/MM by HF radio. Copied by Jim, WB2REM, Port St. Lucie, FL
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