Rota to Tenerife, August 10, 2012

Noon Position
N 30 39.104
W 013 59.158
C 222 S 6
532 NM traveled
144 NM last 24
5.3 Average Knots
177 NM to go

Another relaxing 24 hours. Winds have picked up to about force 5 so I am running on a furled jib. The monitor makes it easy to tell if Reboot is overpowered. If the rudder is not finding the center of the device then it is being overpowered, even if it is still able to hold course. When I reduced sail it came back to neutral and the ride was better.

Unfortunately the waves have picked up a bit so we are rocking and rolling a bit more. It is not uncomfortable but one has to be careful with one's footing and make sure there is a place to hang on. The other problem is that since we are heading mostly downwind the rocking tends to get air behind the jib every once in a while and it flaps its discontent. I also wonder if I will, once again have to change the fuel filters. I did before I left Rota and have put biocide in the fuel. We will see what happens.

At this rate I will reach Tenerife in the middle of the night so I will have to find a place to drop the hook. I don't like the idea of trying to make an approach to the marina in the dark.

There is still quite a bit of ship traffic. I encounter a vessel about every 2 hours but most of them are 10 or so miles away. In most cases they see me on their AIS and give me wide berth.

Fair winds and following seas.