Bermuda to Azores..13.5.13

Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Mon 13 May 2013 16:41
Today is tthe day our computer predicted our arrival in Horta.
 
But, as in the last few days, though we are sailing well, and making reasonable speed...between 5.5 and 6 knots...we still have over 500 miles to go as the crow flies.
 
But we cannot sail as a crow flies...the wind is all coming straight from the Azores. Which means we will likely have to sail twice the distance!!!  And Karen was promised that this would be a doddle.
 
Sailing on the wind like this is tiring, the boat is well heeled over, and everything we do is planned well iin advance and takes longer than it would otherwise.
 
Despite the moderate breezes, lovely sailing weather, iin fact, the Atlantiic does like to pile itself up into large waves, especially in the afternoon, so the progress is uncomfortable and noisy, as we crash through, amid flying spray...
Hopefully we will benefit from a predicted, but late windshift to the north, which will give us a couple of easier days....it looks a present like another week out here at the current rate of progress.
 
Position as at 1640 UT is;
 
38 37.393N  39 49.905W