In the arctic

Awelina of Sweden
James Collier
Thu 5 Jul 2012 12:19
69 07.20 N, 004 32.00 E

We crossed the arctic circle yesterday lunchtime, and celebrated with a small glass of Manzanilla - it's a pretty dry trip so far since that's the only alcohol either of us have drunk since Stornoway! Now opposite the north end of the Lofoten Islands, but 200 miles offshore. Slightly disconcertingly, the way the chart is folded the only land on the chart is the tiny and remote island of Jan Mayen, some 400 miles to the west.

We've had a splendid 24 hours on a steady reach in F4 - 5 at 7.5 knots, with good visibility, and dry and even the occasional gleam of sun. We could have gone faster but only half a knot and that would have meant much rougher motion and more strain on boat and man. The temperature has dropped noticeably. We are past the half way mark, but still have about 600 miles to go so I imagine it will get a lot colder still! No ships or yachts or even wildlife in the last 24 hours, so it feels a bit remote.

The wind is now dropping - it's down to F3 - still from the east and raining. I expect it will continue to drop and back to the north this evening and to the northwest by 7am tomorrow, increasing to F6 or so, so we've deliberately steered a bit west of the direct course hoping not to have to point so high tomorrow when it comes from the NW.