COG 334T

SOG 5.3kts

Motoring

We motored overnight and it looks like we have about 150nm until we pick up the NE Trade Winds with almost no wind before then. This means we will have motored for about 3 days which will be longer than forecast but perhaps not as long as had we taken the coastal route. The coastal route has a favourable current which can make it quicker but also prone to more thundery weather. We opted for a northerly course to the east of the rhumb line in the hope of picking up the NE Trades quicker.

We are in the ITCZ (Doldrums) where it is hot and humid and the sea glassy smooth! Yesterday we had big rain showers bubbling up all around us but today it has remained sunny with fluffy cumulus clouds. Tomorrow there is a suggestion of cloud and thunder depending upon which weather forecast you go with. The GFS forecast has consistently much higher CAPE values (a measure of energy in the atmosphere) than all the others so we are keeping our fingers crossed for the majority. Whichever forecast you go with things change rapidly within the ITCZ and you can never be certain what the weather holds in store.

Our gas bottle ran out today so we changed it for one of the two remaining full ones. We get about three weeks gas out of each. Unfortunately the replacement bottle is failing to deliver any gas so we are now using what may be our last bottle…….