Crossing the International Date Line

12.30.16 International Date Line, 179° W

A big event happened today – crossing the International Date Line, from East Longitude, to West Longitude. We are opposite on the Planet from Greenwich, UK, where the Prime Meridian is. Think of it, we are upside down from them – or – they are upside down from us. Especially since we are at almost the exact Latitude also. And for that, we passed in the night the Antipodes Islands, named for that fact of being opposite to Greenwich, UK.

Now, we start counting down longitude, toward Cape Horn, toward France, although at the moment, both seem very far away. And that is also because we face two big storms in the next week, one starting later today and into tomorrow. Our whole group of boats has taken some effort to head to the north. We have gone the furthest so far, but we will not be able to escape it. Perhaps we can reduce the worst of it.

Needless to say, I am anxious about it. We are pushing right now to sail northeast, with mainsail +1 reef, and the fractional gennaker, to make good speed. When the wind starts to shift to the West Northwest, and push us further east, it should also diminish for a period. In that time, we’ll take down the fractional gennaker, put it away in the forepeak, get the storm jib rigged and hoisted, and perhaps get ahead of the game by going to the second reef. Ultimately, we’ll get to either 3rd reef, or 4th reef, plus the storm jib (sail diagrams).

Click here for our weather maps links, and you can see what we are facing. This link also has an interesting visualization of the conditions along the Vendée Globe course.

Wish us luck!

Position
48° 36’S x 178° 48’W
Course
044° True
Speed
11.4 knots
Log
15,958 nm
True Wind Speed
11 knots
True Wind Direction
286°
Sails (click for sail diagrams)
Mainsail (+1 reef), Fractional Gennaker
Air Temperature
55°F / 12.7°C
Sea Temperature
51°F / 10.5°C