A Squall, a Turtle, and the Moon

Position 07°08.4S 142°04.2W — Course 338° — Speed 7.2kn

What a strange day, weather-wise. We’ve had just about every variation you can think of. At one point, a massive squall came rolling in. As it approached, the air temperature dropped sharply and the rain began. The wind shifted a full 90°, pushing us from 350° to 260° on the compass — yet we were still sailing.

But then, as the squall engulfed us completely, the wind vanished. Sails flapping, preventers groaning, we started the engine and tried to find a course that would fill the sails again. We did a full 360° — and found none.

We pulled in the forestaysail and jib, took in a bit on the mizzen, and left the mainsail as slack as possible. There was still a chance of a sudden gust, and even though we had daylight to see it coming, I didn’t want to be caught out. By that point, we’d been standing in the downpour for over an hour. Fingers wrinkled, calluses peeling. When the wind finally returned, it came from the northwest — and we were heading south.

The weather forecast hadn’t mentioned anything about shifting winds, and we’re in the Trade Wind belt now. So this was a reminder: a squall creates its own weather — a short-lived microclimate.

Warm, moisture-laden air rises over the ocean, condenses, cools, and becomes heavy. Rain begins to fall, and cold downdrafts plunge downward. These convective systems can collapse the surface wind entirely, or shift it 180° in minutes. They demand alertness and quick thinking on board.

Luckily, we have just the team for that. Curious, involved, and always up for a challenge.

It’s night watch now. The moon just rose — a calm moment after the day’s madness. When I woke up, I noticed my hand resting on the Honu, a turtle-shaped carving that’s traveling with me. Fitting, I thought. In Polynesian culture, the Honu represents memory, the ocean, and the journey. Now that the islands are slowly slipping into memory, this one travels with me — quietly, steadily, fully.

All is well on board,

Jet

Picture of the day by me — just after the squall.