Our position at 12 00 on 23 June is 37:58.4N 045:29.9W . We have about 798 nm to run to Horta in the Azores and we have completed a very modest 67 nm in the last day. Nine full days completed.

 

Seems that there was a hitch with entry of of position and distance data yesterday. So for the record miles run for the 22 June was 98 nm and distance to Horta was 865 nm.

 

June 22 – Motoring continued until 16 30 when a bit of wind stirred. Out with sails, within an hour we were doing 6.3 kts on port broad reach. It couldn’t last and it didn’t but it’s 21 00 and we still have progress in the right direction at about 3 kts through the rain. Fingers and toes crossed for a productive night.

 

June 23 – This didn’t last long and we were down to eking out progress at about 1 Kt. Even that didn’t last and we gave up. Decided to just sit and wait as we have become fed up of listening to the thumper throbbing away. One advantage of running the engine is that the engine room does make a good drying room and we do get hot water on board for the next 24 hours.

 

By now we had company, another yacht which was off a few miles to our port side. She was having the same good time and had opted to take down the sails and sit it out.

 

Morning came and there was the first ripples on the water. At 07 00 we were off fairly slowly at first building up to about 4 kts by 09 00. That was the good news, the not so good news was that we where close hauled and about 30 degrees off track. Beggars can’t be choosers so we took it. Its come around a few degrees since then and we are hopeful that we will be on track in the next few hours.

 

I tried to contact our yachtie friends on VHF in the early morning but there was no response. They have now cleared off north, must be heading direct for Europe.

 

Its 11 00 and we are on course close hauled and doing 5.2 kts, the sun is shining and we have just entered the 700s. What more can you ask for.