The Realities of Crossing the Pacific Ocean, Part 3 Champagne Sailing (Calico Skies Sailing, Ep 227)

The Realities of Crossing the Pacific Ocean, Part 3: Champagne Sailing

In this episode, we continue our journey across the Pacific Ocean, delving into the realities and challenges faced during a transoceanic voyage. In the third part of this series, we discuss champagne sailing conditions and tackle technical issues that arose during our expedition.

Champagne Sailing Conditions

We’ve finally reached what we call ‘champagne sailing’ conditions. The waves have significantly reduced, and the sea is now flat and calm, with crystal-clear waters stretching out before us. We’re averaging a steady 54-57 knots, not exactly breakneck speeds but ideal for comfortable sailing and an average person’s boat usage over time.

Technical Challenges

Sailing offshore brings its fair share of technical challenges. A structural issue with our Code Zero sail forced us to adapt and utilize our spare Spinnaker, ensuring that we maintain momentum on our passage. Although frustrating, it’s essential to be prepared for unexpected situations at sea.

Reliable Solar Power Setup

In a stroke of luck, our solar power setup has been performing exceptionally well throughout the trip. We’ve managed to produce 7-8 kWh daily without needing to run the generator—a marked improvement from past offshore experiences.

Maintaining Clean Water Supply

To ensure a consistent water supply, we employ a water maker that runs daily to provide us with an adequate reserve. The device churns out 35 gallons per hour, enabling us to maintain a comfortable living standard even in remote locations.

Navigating Bird Encounters

A notable challenge we’ve faced during our journey has been the relentless pursuit of birds, particularly boobies. These persistent creatures often collide with solar panels and other parts of the boat, requiring quick thinking and actions to deter them from causing damage.

PredictWind Data Hub

In this episode, we highlight an exciting update in our tracking technology—the PredictWind Data Hub. This tool utilizes AI to create polars for your boat based on real-time sailing data. It automatically adjusts routes and provides improved accuracy with every day of logged information. This advancement helps us navigate weather patterns more effectively during long passages.

Conclusion

As we continue our journey across the Pacific Ocean, we learn to appreciate moments of calm amidst the inevitable challenges. Our adventures prove that sailing is a combination of both boredom and chaos, but ultimately leads us closer to our ultimate destinations.