Day 219 Denerau departure

By 0930 we have pulled the anchor and are proceeding out of the harbor. We turn south and motor sail for an hour until we have passed the reef near the Cloudbreak surf break.
At 1030 we turn off the engine and proceed under reefed sail and jib. The wind is blowing at 20 to 25 knots from the southeast (120º). This is 60º off our bow as we bear 180º directly south. There are scattered clouds in the sky that make a fantastic backdrop for the sunset. There is no moon so by the time there is no more sunlight the sky and sea are very dark except for the phosphorescent plankton that lights up as the boat passes. In these conditions, we are making a very respectable 7 to 8 knots. This is perfect sailing weather.
By the end of my watch, the wind has backed to about 100º, which puts it off our beam (directly from the side) instead of off the bow. This is even a more comfortable point of sail. There is a lot of lightning behind us, probably over Fiji, but overhead it is partly cloudy and I can see my old friend Orion as I finish my watch.