FW: Saturday 8th December

R A I N B O W - JH2
1934 Am Cup Ltd
Sat 8 Dec 2018 19:24

 

 

From: Captain, s/y Rainbow J-H2
Sent: 08 December 2018 09:39
To: rainbow+diary-183370 {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com
Subject: FW: Saturday 8th December

 

 

 

From: Captain, s/y Rainbow J-H2
Sent: 08 December 2018 09:27
To: rainbow+diary-183370 {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com
Subject: Saturday 8th December

 

Another day another change in weather. After a great days sailing yesterday, we were hoping to keep the wind through the night, as it was veering northwards so despite dropping it was giving us good angles to sail. However the weather was very unstable and there were huge clouds with squalls, which when they hit gave increases in wind for some time and then nothing. Which was very taxing especially as it was right through the night. The last one lasted over an hour, with torrential rain and lightning. Very hard to dodge as it was 8 miles across and built very rapidly. The wind was 30+ and then nothing afterwards for a completely different angle. So we pulled the yankee down in interesting conditions, and turned on the engine. And the wind had not really come back since, so we are motor sailing with trysail down the rhum line again. In search for the next wind patch, which does not look like it will be for a number of days.

Global weather has certainly changed the normal Atlantic conditions. Not sure what is normal out here now, I have not had decent conditions in December in the Atlantic for over 10 years, the trade winds are extremely fickle now, and arrive later and later. The North Atlantic lows are developing much further south than normal, producing this no wind zone across the Atlantic. I imagine the jet stream is very far south and spain and Portugal are getting battered instead of the western approaches.

After the nice day of sailing everyone is in high spirits and looking forward to half way in a couple of days.

 

Position 0900 Local time

"25:127.44N 032:39.07W"

 

COG 270

SOG 9 kts

 

Mat and the crew of Rainbow JH2