For the last 4,000 miles Tainui has loped along effortlessly in these extraordinarily constant SE winds. With either twin poled headsails or a reefed main and one pole the sailing has been effortless, our bow wave varying between susurration and roar as we surge westward. We seem to have left behind us those strong squalls and heavy rains so common in the South Pacific Convergence Zone and sail changes are now less common and less urgent. With choppy seas and 25 knots of wind you wouldn’t want to be beating eastward though.
We have had time to bake bread, to debate menus and to sleep. It’s pretty good really.