Sunday 15th Jan 19 54.388N 29 20.241W

Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Sun 15 Jan 2017 19:16
We gybed before dawn this morning as the GRIB files showed a bleak future for anyone trying to sail north of the rhumb line.
 
With the kite up, we spent the first few hours of the day trickling aling in some fairly pleasant but difficult sailing conditions. Pleasant, because it soon became hot and sunny, but difficult because we had less than 10 knots of wind, but a wavetrain more suited to 20 plus knots. So the boat heaved around and the wind was constantly shaken out of the sails. It was noisy and difficult to get "traction".
 
Eventually, after noon, some consistency to the breeze materialised, and with is a more stable sea state. This evening, we have nearly 13 knots of wind and can soak down to around 240, only 30 degrees south of our objective. I reckon another 70 miles on this gybe will see us approaching the starboard layline and we can run in on the expected better pressure to the south of us.
 
FRED has agreed to sail to a wind angle this afternoon, something he has refused to do properly since we left England. Jenny was hauled in for a rest in the really light stuff this morning. She is just a drag....under 5 knots or so.
 
Otherwise all well...we are into our warm weather menus now...salad for supper!