Fickle winds

Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Mon 29 Nov 2010 13:24
Our position is 19:53.72N 18:50.56W 
 
24 hour Run     Log trip (through the water)          102.5Nm (530.7Nm cumulative)
24 hour Run     GPS     (overground)                   86.5Nm
Midday wind and weather                                    Force 1 SSE      Hazy Sunny   
Sea state:                                                           Very long 1meter swell but no waves. 
Temperature:                                                      30.5C
 
The challenge of the last 24 hours has been to try to use the forecast information we have to keep sailing in a more or less useful direction. Now that time is up I don't think there was a better plan. We have at times been making good progress in winds up to 15Knts but that has been more than offset by light winds from ahead and periods when it was all we could do to maintain steerage way during last night. We are currently motoring at low revs, probably until the late afternoon when the wind should start to fill in from a helpful NE direction. It is frustrating to be making such slow progress and nothing we can do about it. It could be worse if we were further west we would be looking at an extended period of quite strong SW winds and further to the east a longer period of light winds and further to sail.
The easy conditions provide opportunity for other activities like fishing. The rod has been deployed and tended by various crew members yesterday afternoon. Peter cooked chicken chasseur for dinner, very tasty.
We continue to add little refinements to the boat. Yesterdays efforts were a rod holder for the pushpit and shockcord and velcro straps to hold the jars and tins in the galley lockers on starboard tack.
We had a close encounter of the shipping kind last night when a freighter which Peter had been watching on AIS for 15 miles and was passing us on our starboard side suddenly turned towards us. Scary to see white lights in line and both red and green. Urgent radio call and starting the engine were called for. (we were sailing at less than 3Kts) The response from the officer of the watch was unimpressive but he did turn to port and missed us ok.
The weather last night was hot humid and today while sunny is still very humid 75%RH.
This morning a small school of whales were spotted close enough to identify clearly through the binoculars, but too far away to photograph. Made a nice change from dolphins.
 
EJW