Panama to Ecuador - Day 5

9AM Position Report

Things are looking up today.

After a rough day of sailing yesterday, in 15 to 20 knots of wind from directly where we wanted to go, overnight the conditions improved considerably. During the heavy conditions we got to try out some different sail combinations, eventually settling for a double-reefed mainsail, the staysail and a severely reefed genoa, which allowed us to sail fairly close-hauled for much of the day. Unfortunately, the course we were making was taking us closer to the coast than we wanted to go and we were forced to go back to motor-sailing with the main alone just before dark.

This morning, the winds are down to about 5 knots form the SSW, the swells are very light, there does not appear to be any significant current, and the sun is even peeking out of the clouds now and then. We have had no sign of any squalls for the last 12 hours, so maybe we have passed through the ITCZ and are in for much kinder conditions for the remainder of the passage.

We are less than 90 miles from our destination at Bahia de Caraquez now, and expect to make our entry into the river tomorrow morning, always assuming we can get in contact with the pilot - we have had no response from our emails as yet. One other boat is a short distance ahead of us and are also planning on making their entry on tomorrow's 10:45AM high tide.

BTW: We are now only 44 miles north of the equator. Should be crossing in about 8 hours.

{GMST}00|44|N|080|23|W|To Ecuador - Day 5|To Ecuador - Day 5{GEND}