Return Leg: Day 5 - Bowling Along
Halcyon
Rob Withers
Sat 27 Jun 2015 09:09
They say All things mut pass - and the time of motionless clattering
and flapping passed a mercifully short time after yesterday's email.
Since then, the wind has gradually and steadily picked up from a
constant SSW direction so that we are now rolling at 7.5kn in F5 broad
reach - good sailing.
Last night was beautiful, the sea was still calm and the moon bright
enough to provide a horizon, allowing me to take a sight on the moon,
venus and polaris. I've only got the tables for polaris (yes, there
are some calculation to make - even for the pole star) and found that
we weren't far from where we were (at least in latitude). The venus
and moon sights will need to be completed as a classroom exercise.
We had Winchat near us for 48 hours until about 5am this morning.
Perhaps they too are having a debate about which way to go. Yesterday
I was looking at an oilder grib file that showed quite a different
pattern to the wind-hole that looks likely for tomorrow. I thought it
best to head east to avoid it, but since looking at a newer forecast,
we're going to stick pretty much to the direct line - at least until
tomorrow am
Not much wildlife to report. Just a lovely seagull that glides over
the waves behind us for hours on end. It looks like a miniature
albatross - rarely flapping its wings. I've not seen (or more
likely not noticed) gulls like this before. Any ideas what it could be
Rob
pp James