We are still out here sailing now down the coast of Labrador our current position is 59.33 north 63.22 west. We left our anchorage on the north shore of Cumberland sound three days ago  and that was quite a gale with highest wind being 57 mph. A magnificent high, grey,  granite walled shelter that had a mysterious air about it in a good way. It gave us the protection we needed to get out of the fury that was roiling outside in the Davis Strait for a couple of days and nights. We have crossed the Arctic circle and now we see the stars at night and the Northern Lights when it is clear.

We sailed south past Frobisher Bay which was named after Martin Frobisher who  was born in  Yorkshire, England in in 1540 although Martins ancestry  was Welsh. He was born during the reign of Elizabeth the first. It was to Elizabeth and her people that Martin requested ships and sailors to seek the passage that Cabot was unable to find, the route to Cathay. Elizabeth turned him down and he found sponsorship in the form of ships and sailors from the Muscovy Company. In 1576 he sailed north east from England commanding the Gabriel and Michael each about 25 tons each with a crew of 35 brave souls.Within days he lost contact with the Michael in a storm.. The Gabriel continued and reached Labrador six weeks later. He entered the inlet today named after him and found a black stone he was convinced that had gold within it. He returned the following year with his ship the Ayde and fifteen other ships along with a hundred miners and refiners, this time sponsored by Elizabeth I and returned to England with 1200 tons of the black rock! Unfortunately for Martin no gold was discovered in the haul and it was a pathetic flop.

Maybe next time I can tell about Henry Hudson.

In the past few days we have dealt with fog, ice bergs, large rafts of kelp trying to figure out all the currents and eddIes that are prevalent in this part of the briny world.

Not many vessels around, last night we talked to a fishing ship out of St Johns, Newfoundland who was very friendly and out going and yesterday morning a large vessel that might have been Russian but not quite sure as she steamed past us at 24 knots to our 6 knots. All is well on our small sailing vessel Catryn tonight a little bit of a rolly polly effect going on. Enough motion to rock a salty type sailor to a harmonious slumber. Pete served an excellent meal this evening, top shelf! Cath and Captain Dai are both on the bridge guiding our good ship along. Phil is sleeping getting ready to go on watch in 45 minutes and Pete has all night in his bunk tonight. I am off to my bunk across from Pete and secure the lee boards so I do not roll out and will be going on watch at midnight in a few hours.Presently it is 2120 here and we hope to land ashore on terra firma on the great island of Newfoundland four days from now. Thank you all for your support and interest in our voyage, it does gets pretty lonely up here at the top of the world!

Nos da, goodnight.

Hywel