Azores to Gibraltar Day 4 - All good things come to an end
Position 36:53.50 N 013:32.23 W Date 2359 (UTC) Thursday 30 March 2017 Distance run in 24hrs 180nm over the ground, 178nm through the water Passage total 634nm over the ground, 618nm through the water Distance to go 356nm Planned distance Ponta Delgada, Azores to Gibraltar 986nm The downloaded GRIB files from two of our sources, based on different computer generated models, agreed that towards 1800 the SSW wind would veer round to the west and then go WNW and that is what happened between 1700 and 1800. The wind also went light to the forecast 8 knots so that our excellent progress of the last three days, in 20 to 25 knots, slowed down from 8 knits plus to a more prosaic diesel assisted 6.5 knots. Still, we are not complaining as we have had a good run. We continue to have a south going current that looks to be over a knot. This will slow us down as we approach the Straits and it swings more to the west. Today the sun shone and the sea sparkled and all was well in the world, or it would be if our genoa furler had not once again packed in. We think that we will at some stage, probably when we come to the boat in September, fit a replacement from Reckmann, the manufacturer not surprisingly and we assume in the light of experience with Bamar, that Amel use on their current boats. As we get closer to the Straits of Gibraltar and the European mainland we are seeing an increasing number of ships on our AIS system. As I have commented before, one of the pieces of information that is provided is the port of destination and the estimated date and time of arrival. These are fascinating and we are now seeing in the west destinations such as New Orleans and Halifax, Nova Scotia and in the east Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp in Europe and Rosyth in Scotland. No takers yet for Felixstowe and the Thames Gateway. The freezer continues to produce excellent food, every boat should have such a magic device. Tonight’s dish is chicken curry compete with poppadums. |