COG 320T

SOG 3.5kts

Wind NE F2+-

A strange day although probably normal for the Doldrums. Absolutely no wind overnight and through the morning. Vivid lighting to the south in the early part of the evening but otherwise fairly clear overnight with a bright full moon.

This morning our speed had dropped from an initial 6kts yesterday to around 4.5kts. Engine revs remained constant at just under 2000rpm so we were thinking there must be some adverse current. We noticed we were in a sea of thick Sargasso weed and then felt and heard the awful sound of something wrapped around the prop. Straight into neutral and then gentle reverse did the trick and cleared the weed. This had wrapped around the Hydrovane rudder as well but also cleared as we reversed. 

So maybe it was weed slowing us down but before we had time to think about it the sky had clouded over with dark rain cloud and the wind started to come up from the north. We put the genoa out and motorsailed but found it difficult to hold our course in wind of up to 18kts. Fearing a squall with stronger wind we put the mainsail up with three reefs. This gave the balance we needed and we were soon sailing through heavy rain. Fortunately the CAPE values were lower today so we had less fear of lightning and have been happily bowling along under sail at up to 6kts.

Now it’s 1600 local time and the wind has dropped again. We had a fleeting hope this might be the start of the north east trades but they are not forecast until Monday. A shame because we have been motoring and using fuel more than anticipated. Now surrounded by dark, blue-grey cloud we could have two more days of motoring, or the wind could pick up again or well, anything really!

Only 17nm until we cross the Equator. We have a couple of bottles of zero alcohol beer in the fridge and hope Neptune isn’t insulted with his libation!  Once past the Equator we are in our home waters of the North Atlantic again!