13 29 716N 034 15 695W
Fair Do's VII, Atlantic 2008....
Professor John Shepherd
Mon 1 Dec 2008 06:20
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Good Morning Chris,
Hope all is well, our position is (as above): 13 29
716N 034 15 695W
Current
Windspeed: 11.5 KNTS (we are sure this is under
reading)
Direction: 075
Heading: 289 (with A2, on Starboard tack - gybed at
0100)
Boatspeed: 9.5 knts (though we have consistently
seen a lot more for prettty prolonged spells)
Range last 12 - 24
hours:
Windspeed: 10 - 16 (gusts to 20)
Direction: 65 - 132 (TWD gybing through big angles
when we gybe)
General: Since rain for about half an hour at
apprximately 1845, when it went light for a couple of hours we have been in
generally good breeze. On Port tack we were sailing from 230 - 254, depending on
wind phase, and we gybed at 0100 to avoid getting too far from the rhumb line,
and also as we had noticed a left trend expected from the GRIB's throughout the
2400-0600 time scale. We waited for a slight back and then went confident that
we would get let down nearer the rhumb.
Had the odd significant cloud which affected
instability, brought a brief spell of rain and reasonable increases in pressure
to promote concenr about having the A2 up but these did not look nasty enough or
increase windspeed quickly, or significantly enough to encourage us to go to A4
or A5. In short we have been pushing as hard as possible as recommended, which
only caused one broach in the small hours more from a lack of concentration than
windstrength - I can say this as it was me!
We have one boat on the starboard side slightly
forwards on us, suspect it may be, and hope it is, Stormvogel. We were
generllay happy with the positions which leaves us further South than anybody
else, though we think there is an error with Nova One's position. This is more
due to gybing angle than any overt strategy to go hard south.
Gameplan:
We intend to carry on in on Starboard tack, until
such a time when we start to run out of pressure (in which case we may stand on
anyway depending on relative position to trough) **input useful**, or if GRIB's
sugest there is a better route through the trough by taking a short hitch. We
hope this may get us through the trough OK in which case it is possible we may
be in on this if we can maintain really good speed to get us out the other side
and keep in front of the advancing westwards lighter breezes. Any thoughts on
whether or not the trough is developping as expected would be very useful also,
as well as if once beyond you would recomend tending high or low of rhum. We
think at present we should have a good gybe angle which will give us good pace
versus the opposition and a fast, safe course we can hold it night with
combination of A2, A4, A5 and Jib Top depending on strength, and
TWD.
Hope Cowes is warmer with less rain this
morning!
Regards,
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