COG 338T

SOG 4.8kts

Motoring

Yesterdays highlight was crossing the Equator at 2053 local time. Annie roused me from my bunk and together we celebrated with our bottle of (zero alcohol) beer and a biscuit for Neptune. We are in the North Atlantic although it doesn’t yet feel like home waters!

Today is another frustrating motor through the ITCZ with every daily weather forecast telling us we have yet another day of motoring. It seems the northern edge is moving north at the same speed as we motor towards it. The wind is teasing us again and this afternoon has again blown from the NNE just enough for us to put the sails out but as soon as we do it backs to the north and we head too far westwards. We cannot trust that this is the beginning of the trade winds and must assume it’s a local anomaly until we get consistent wind from the north east. We have motorsailed for a couple of hours and are now motoring with the small mainsail up. We still have the northern edge convection zone to get through with its squalls and unpredictability so it’s all rather unsettling and wearying. It feels like we have been on this leg for longer than four days.

We are supposed to find the trade wind at some point tomorrow and I hope we do because we only have enough fuel for 6 days of motoring, all the forecasts having predicted no more than two before we set off. I put 60 litres into the tank from the containers which should give as 2 or 3 days in hand when we get out of here - plus 20 litres kept in reserve for 10 hours of motoring certainty if needed!

Todays highlight has been Annie’s banana and walnut loaf. Moist and yummy it really is delicious and helps lift the spirits!