0924 PDT 7/26/24
We've enjoyed a series of squalls over the last 12 or so hours. Not to diminish their potential, but they have a pretty bad reputation. Yes sure the wind speed picks up markedly and may shift in direction as they approach. But not all squalls live up to the image projected into the mainstream by works like the movie White Squall. For the three I saw while on watch, I don't think I saw winds hit 35 knots when the steady wind was 16-22. They do bring rain, which, frankly felt great. The wind seemingly helped lay down the seas a bit too. We were seeing easy 10 footers, some of us estimating 15' in the afternoon. Anticipating the squalls, we reduced sail and now have up a reefed main (#1) and roller reefed jib (50%ish). There is a ship at our four o'clock, also headed to Hawaii. Same line, close enough, so we confirmed each has the other in sights as well as on AIS. I look forward to the squalls clearing so we can get that spinnaker working full throttle again.
All good.
-- Jeremy --