210427-05-02: P VALLARTA TO GAMBIER Part 2: "Crossing the doldrum"

08 05'N/ 119 16'W is the point where we sailed south to cross the doldrum. This doldrum is not stable in april but most of the time between 2N and 10N. As we can move between 2 and 3 degrees in latitude per day (120-180m) the risk meteo is only on 3 days; we choice the best timing to receive the lightest south wind around 3-4 north latitude...

always dark clouds on our portside...

...but this time we ll face them...

...the sea is still ok with a 10-15k wind...

Scott prepare the last pinapple...1 week after our start...

Helena try to fish, but without result...

...no catch from a very long time !

No matter, ALCYONE sail constantly south !

Each 6 hours routings shows different paths...southward is the simple choice !

...very soon,  we ll get the big confusion...

...as this pink cloud outside of any desert proximity...

...and here the result after 90degres windshifts, up to 25k wind in the nose...

Hi Jean Louis...ski voile 2014 !

...the worst is behind, A dozen small Mahi Mahi gives challenge to Helena...

Our route as south as possible...between 9 and 6 degrees North latitude

...the 30 april was the worst day...after, we got a bit of NNW wind (port side) !

2 may morning...we are out of the system at 2 30', the doldrum is behind us.

...ALCYONE sail  now n the south hemisphere pattern...