N 32 deg 08', E 136 deg 26' -- Race 9, Day 5

Another quick one, since it's 10PM, I just got off watch, and I need to
grab some sleep while I can.

You may have noticed (I have) a lot of recurring themes in this blog.
Today's: Wow, the weather changes fast out here.

Two nights ago, we rounded Japan (actually the southern tip of Kyushu(?))
in second place. Unlike some previous races, this was a legitimate second
for us. We weren't off on some course of our own that flattered our
apparent position while being poor for the long-term. We were right within
sight of the "traditional" race leaders, just in front of most of them,
after making the most of several days of light but steady sailing.

By the time morning rolled around, we were in the Pacific proper, and
things were a lot more lively. The wind was up, and we were headed straight
into it (or as straight into it as you can sail this boat). The swells were
picking up too and the ride was getting pretty bouncy. By the afternoon, we
were getting 40 knot winds steady with gusts in the 50's (compared to a
forecast of 25). Reefs were in, and we were down to the Yankee 3, our small
headsail. We broke a batten, and had to drop the main to replace it. During
the night, the wind eased a bit, and we shook out some reefs, but we
snapped the third reefing line in the process. This morning, I was among
those woken up an hour early (brutal when you only have four hours off) to
help take in a reef again, as the wind had built up. Over the course of our
morning watch, we then shook out all the way to full main. At lunch the
combined watches changed up to the Yankee 1. During the afternoon watch,
the other guys shifted to spinnaker, then to windseeker. And over the past
four hours, we've been trying to get what we could out of 3-6 knot puffs of
air from no consistent direction. We've dropped a bit to around sixth,
partly because of the damage and partly just not being as good beating
upwind as we are downwind (I think), but still right in the thick of a
closely packed fleet.

We do expect the wind to pick up again soon, and it should be from a better
direction, allowing us faster, more pleasant, and better (for us relative
to the fleet) downwind sailing. We'll see if it delivers. Just over 4500 nm
to go. A long way, a lot can happen.