Back to sailing after 4 hours of motor-sailing. Total motoring since Cochin 28 hours (or 84 litres @ 3 litres/hour) so doing much better than anticipated on the diesel front. True wind is now well and truly abaft the beam, around 100 degrees at 10-12 knots. With the south setting current and our forward speed we have an apparent angle of 70-80 degrees, Very comfortable. Still making 6 to 7 knots over the ground and keeping ahead of our PredictWind weather route.

Position 12° 35.646′ N 67° 06.802′ E
COG 289T
SOG 6.3kt

Wind has veered to NNE and eased to about 10 knots Sea state is calm with a northerly swell of less than half a meter. Also have about a knot of south setting current pushing us south and slowing us by about half a knot. Batteries at -321Ah, so motor sailing to charge batteries. Peaceful night was had by all, sailing under a 60% waxing moon. Greatest challenge during watch is to stay awake! Sunrise is noticeably later now (around 7:30) so we’ll turn back the clocks to UTC+5:00 today.

Position 12° 30.620′ N 67° 33.235′ E
COG 276T
SOG 6.7kt
Engine 138.0 h

1 reef in main, sheets eased, setting course directly for IRTC Point B. 116nm since 0700 Tuesday, heading for another day of 150-160nm under sail.

Position 12° 25.861′ N 68° 16.002′ E
COG 278T
SOG 6.8kt
Log 8,302 nm

Remarkably, very little has changed. Wind and sea state continue to be ideal and have touched neither trim nor helm since 7am. Just cantering along at 6.5 to 7.5 knots, no rolling, and about 5 degrees of heel angle. Very comfortable. Settled into 2 sleeps a day now, topping up the 4 to 5 hours per night with a three hour nap each day, so sleep deprivation is not an issue. So easy when the weather is benign. Long may it last?

Position 12° 21.421′ N 68° 41.848′ E
COG 282T
SOG 6.4kt