48:53.97N 006:09.78W Couldn't Wait Any Longer

Oboe D'Amore's Web Diary
Nigel Backwith
Sun 17 Apr 2011 11:58

Saturday morning saw bright skies and light airs.  The decision made the night before was to stay in the Falmouth area, perhaps up the Helford river, for another day to wait for the Easterlies.  So, we did some crew sail training, firstly tied to our buoy and then out in the bay, dodging Laser dinghies helmed by little children.  Silence fell over the crew and as we headed towards Helford all seemed to agree with no words spoken that we might as well beat south slowly and start our passage.

 

It was a liberating decision that saw us making slow progress, sometime less than walking pace, out past The Lizard as the hours ticked by and night fell.  The wind veered slowly but surely all night requiring constant sail trimming and an eventual full goose wing running ahead of the breeze.  The sun rose and a long overdue gybe was put in and that was it!  He easterlies have arrived, the pressure has risen, the skies have cleared, the sun is warm, we’re pointing at La Coruna and the wind is freshening on the beam.  Perfect for the time being and what we have been waiting for.  Wouldn’t it be great if this kept up for the next 3 days, all the way to Spain!  The weather forecast says it will but you’ll have to come back here tomorrow to see how good the forecast is.

 

 

Follow our progress here:

 

http://blog.mailasail.com/oboe, where you can see our daily progress on Google Earth.  Email us at: oboe {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com any time you like.  Phone us on +881 631 669 194 and we’ll pick up via Iridium satellite.

 

 

Fair winds to you all.

 

 

Nigel

Paul

Paul

Tereza

Josef