Day 2 - 00*05'S, 92*05'W Couldn't Be More Different

If we had started out in blue skies, and great winds, today became the reality of changeable weather.  The 3 metre swell dominated the night, causing Laros to bounce about from pillar to post, and everything inside her.  Winds were unpredictable and variable strength.  By 7.30pm, we were down to 5 knots of wind, and so on went the engine. Chug, chug, for the rest of the night, as we predicted. We tried a 3, 3, 2, 2, hour watch duration starting at 9pm. By dawn, the wind was increasing, sufficient to try some sails again.  It was not until 9.30am that we were able to switch of the engine and do some passable sailing.  Intermittent heavy rain, thick rolling clouds, and a coolness we haven't experienced for some time conspired to make our first full day unpleasant. Thank goodness for the enclosed boom tent.  For the most part, it kept us dry. Precooked beef curry and rice, with one of the many bananas on board, concluded daylight Day 2, accompanied of course with a sundowner of choice. And so, into the night routine.  We had set an arbitary waypoint co-located with the top right corner of a grib-file box looking as if it should produce more wind. As if by magic, 12 miles out, the SE trades began to blow.  At first 12-15 knots, and then up to 22 kts. Up went the full genoa, our trusty headsail, and along Laros romped at 7-8 kts.  Stars came out, the air dried a little, although one small rain squall managed to catch Deb, and morale began to rise.  After 30 hours and 208 miles, we have hit the Trades.  Our course is taking us 225* SW deeper into the Trade belt, until we hit something like 6*S when we shall turn more westerly and fly the headsail on the pole.  We keep our fingers crossed for these winds to stay with us.