Blog 24th May 2010

Nightsong
Mon 24 May 2010 14:40
Dear Blog
 
Noon position GMT-2  36.21N 51.24W - 117 miles since noon yesterday but not all in the right direction. Funnily enough we appeared to have a current against us to the south of the 35th parallel but now are being lee-bowed with the current with us to the north of it. Still we are making  progress eastwards after a rough night plugging a E force 5 - Nightsong was going well with a SOG of 6.5 knots most of the time and a VMG (velocity made good) towards the Azores of > 5 knots).- 1 reef in the main and a rolled down jib.
 
 
As the pic of the chartplotter shows we are taking the direct great circle route to Horta. This means that currently we are only 625 miles from Newfoundland, 200 miles from the southern end of the Grand Banks and 100 miles from the southernmost ice limit for late May (and north of the known southern limit of icebergs admittedly in the early 20th century).. Water temp down to 17C from 24C in Bermuda.
 
The Great Garry from Northshore has been in touch and the good news is that we don't have to drydock again - the vibration when running the engine in gear is almost certainly a misalignment of the shaft with the engine - caused by the flexible coupling bolts breaking. A new flexible coupling has been ordered to be sent to the Azores and I am awaiting instructions as to how to align everything up. The other bit of good news is that the jib held out the rough night and no more splits have occurred. Garry is badgering Elvstrom Sails for a new jib to be delivered free!! Believe it when I see it!!
 
More wildlife including a visit from a huge pod of striped dolphins just now and several turtles ambling by. A grey cold day though - it's warmer in Britain. Westerlies should arrive tonight with F6/8 forecast for Wednesday/Thursday as we catch the southern edge of an Atlantic low - that will be a relief after 1 1/2 days of lee rail under.
 
AJB       24th May 2010