The engine temperature was again continuing to rise, even at a lower RPM. I am starting to wonder if it is the gauge, or whether something is wrong with it. Although I can’t really imagine how it would malfunction in a way that would continue to rise and be wrong. But the engine does not seem overly hot, so I am a bit lost. In any case, I can’t motor into 25 knots of wind anyway, so we are now under sail, double-reefed main, and the genoa heavily reefed as well. Jura sings along. The swell is steep in here, maybe one metre with a short period, and it was very uncomfortable thrashing into it under engine. But under sail Jura just sings along, and surprisingly enjoys going to windward. I guess not surprisingly — that is one of the benefits of a Marconi rig. It will take us a while to get out of Nuchatlitz Inlet, but we will make it. I think it is going to be a very blustery day out there. If it is blowing this hard in here already, then inevitably there will be more swell and wind once we get out of the inlet, which is good, because that should take us quickly down to Nootka Sound. There is nothing worse than being out in the swell without wind.

As I head out of the inlet and toward open water, the waves are getting progressively steeper, and the kayak is getting well washed on the foredeck. Once in a while, we get one swell that looks as though it is about to break. We surge up and over it, and then plunge down the backside. As we plunge into the trough, my fog bell down below makes a celebratory ding. Who knows what it’s celebrating.

Something punched a hole in the port window of the dodger just tore right through the plastic, which is a little bit unnerving, because it now means that any breaking waves can flood through that and into the companionway. I guess I'll just need to remember to keep the companionway hatch closed while beating to windward, and not to put anything up there that I want to stay dry. I think it is probably mostly just due to age. The dodger is starting to fall apart from the UV. It appears that unfortunately, it will need to be replaced.

It’s a serious ocean out here. I finally made it out of the inlet, and am just rounding Ferrer Point. The wind and the swell are spectacular. It’s probably 25-plus knots of wind and 1-2 metre swell. Some of the waves are beginning to break. We’re doing a steady 7 to 8 knots of speed over ground (SOG). What a spectacular day. The anchor was banging, so I had to go up to the bow to tie it off and do it as fast as possible so that I didn't get drenched by a breaking wave. Turning around and looking back at Jura, and then the wake behind us and the waves moving faster than us, it was like a scene from a movie. It made me think of the cover of John Kretschmer’s book Sailing a Serious Ocean. It was sublime. It feels good to bear off, we’re now on a beam reach. The motion is much more enjoyable than being close-hauled and pounding into the waves.

I’m surfing on the backs of these waves at about 10 knots, which is pretty thrilling, to say the least. The wind appears to be picking up. I’m trying to claw my way offshore a little bit to make my way around this reef, but I have the genoa poled out on the starboard side, and I don’t know if I can get the pole down in this sea and wind. That’s the problem with putting the pole out: it’s very hard to get down, especially when the breeze builds and the sea state builds. Then you’re stuck over-canvassed. Anyway, it’s kind of fun surfing these waves. I just hope I’m not putting too much strain on the rig. I think it should be okay as long as we don’t get rolled sideways, which is a real possibility. Jura has gotten very wet on this trip, with water in places I haven’t had water on board before. I went down below and found that salt water had sprayed all across the cabin. I was very confused until I realized that when one of the waves broke over the cabin, it must have flooded the dorade and sprayed into the cabin. I guess I should probably have the dorades all facing backwards, and also closed off, in this kind of sea state. I think I may need to shorten sail quickly soon, as I think we’re pushing too fast and the wind is picking up very quickly. I can actually feel us starting to plough a little bit under the water which is what happens when a displacement hull goes too fast.