Day 18, June 9th, report from ET3, dictated over satphone

 

Very dark night, little wind, though got down to 43N as planned ... not sure good move, time will tell. (Note: Since computer not available, having to rely on amateur weather forecasters and novice route strategists, worrying!!)  (Note: Note added by Dublin Comcen, aka amateur weather forecasters and novice route strategists.....)

 

I could hear birds all around me as I struggled to keep the boat on the wind in fickle conditions.  I couldn't see a thing, neither my sails nor the birds, it was so dark.  I shone the torch into the sky and as I did so all the birds went silent.

 

One bright spot though.  A little petrel landed in the cockpit, obviously very dazed but no apparent injury.  It had tiny webbed feet and was as light as a feather.  When it had recovered I flew it into the black and it was gone.

 

After a long and difficult night, feeling very jaded, I packed up and went to bed. 

 

By morning we had drifted 5 miles to the south east but a gradually building wind from the south delivered many hours of sunshine and fast westerly sailing (7kts).

 

Perhaps going south was a good idea after all! (Phew .... Dublin Comcen!)

 

ENDS.