Departing at 3 a.m. to catch a favorable downwind passage between islands

Lauren and Sylvia are planning a 3:00 a.m. or 3:30 a.m. departure to head toward another island. Lauren repositioned the boat slightly that day to get closer to the pass, making the early exit smoother. The sea state is looking good, with the passage expected to be downwind, which she describes as ideal. Early departures like this are common in Pacific cruising to time passes and maximize favorable conditions during the day.