Hello again,

 

We are currently at 44:18.29N and 20:50.03W with 749 miles to go to Cork. We have 20-25 knots from the southwest and boat speed of around 7-8 knots.

 

Well the weather has been rather consistent since our last email. We've been bobbing along in 20-25 knots from the west and now southwest pretty much since we left the Azores! We have also had between 6-10 feet of swell also from the southwest most of the time so have had a fairly rocky time and good surfs down some pretty big waves! We've also been averaging about 160 miles a day so have put some good miles beneath the keel en route to Ireland!

 

I have a feeling that we are about to get told off this afternoon though! Since leaving Bermuda we have been in contact with Herb, the Atlantic weather guru, AKA southbound 2 on the SSB. (the single side band radio that is used when you're not in direct line of sight with another receiver) He gives a heap of boats information about the weather conditions in their area and what they should expect where they're going. Anyway, the day before yesterday, Herb told us that we should head east and not go north of 40 degrees latitude as there is a low pressure system up there somewhere and we'd get 25-30 and possibly 35 knots of wind in the next few days should we continue on our bearing, so we should stay low until it passes. However since we were already in 20-25 knot winds, having fun and making some good ground we decided to push on. Yesterday we got a little telling off from him when we told him we were at 42 degrees north and he told us again to stay at 42 degrees and to head east again. Since we're now at 44 degrees north and due to check in with Herb I have a feeling he's not going to be too happy with us. It will be interesting to see what he'll have to say as we've heard him telling other boats off and told them to turn around and go back! Anyway we think he likes to direct boats around the Atlantic to keep them in 10-15 knots of wind and anything over 20 knots you should throw out the sea anchor and wait till it passes, so that's the reason for us disobeying his 'orders'. Also he said, apparently on Saturday we have a front crossing us and the winds will go to the northeast (exactly where we're heading) and die off to 10-15 knots so we think we may as well make hay while the sun's shining (or miles while the wind's blowing)

 

So that's about the most excitement we've had in the last few days. I know it's not much but you see us extremely experienced sailors out here have got this down to a fine art and we're running this ship like a well oiled machine! Mind you we are still having minor problems with Moni, the wind vane but with a little attention she's back in line and performing her duties like a good girl should.

 

Anyway, that's about it from us. Everyone's still smiling and we're getting through our books and magazines and fingers crossed we'll be in Cork by the 5th or 6th for a well deserved Scotch!!!

 

Keep the emails coming! They fill a vital gap in our every day entertainment schedule!

Love from the crew of Restless!