Day 1

Kahia
Paul and Catherine Davis
Thu 20 Oct 2011 13:32
36:18.32N 11:06.11W
 
We left Sines at 15.30 UTC (we use universal time for navigation, not local time) and were soon out in the big Atlantic all sails out sailing at 7.5 knots (kts) SOG (Speed over the ground). At night we had to put in 2 reefs in the main and shorten the foresail as we were surprised by wind forces 6-8. It was a rough start to the trip and after weeks of anchoring and coastal hopping we have become a little soft to these conditions. We are glad to say that as we are writing the wind has dropped to a comfortable Force 4-5 and a more regular sea swell, the colour being a reassuring deep turquoise-blue.
Negotiating the weather forecast we are heading to Porto Santo (for security) and will see as the days go by, when it is good to drop down to the Canaries.