On Our Way Home
The Travels of Running Tide
Mick Norman
Mon 14 Jul 2014 12:31
|
Our position at 12 00 on 14 July is
39:46.6N 028:07.5W . We have about 1128 nm to run to Land’s End and we
have completed 61 nm in the last day towards destination. One full day
completed.
July 13 - Yes we are finally on our
way. We left Horta harbour at about 09 30 on 13 July. Conditions are not perfect
as there is still an area of zero wind lurching just to our north so we may have
to push on through that to get to wind in the northern sector of the high.
Anyway its 20 00 and so far so good. Slow and steady could describe our
progress. The wind strength has been light but fairly constant. We have had a
few wind shadows cast by the islands but we have got through these now and have
undisturbed air. We are making north which is good as it will get us above the
centre of the high more quickly without giving up any westings.
Its a beautiful day giving amazing
views of the islands around us. Pico Peak (2351m) is majestic projecting up from
a sea of cloud and still clearly seen from our position 40 nm to the north. It
will be a full moon tonight so it will be interesting to see for how long Pico
Peak is still visible.
Sorry to say that Pico soon
disappeared behind a bank of cloud and we had an overcast night with only
glimpses of the full moon. Conditions overnight were calm with steady light wind
blowing us north and then veering to let us follow our intended course of
approximately 048 degrees True.
July 14 – The morning was overcast,
still on track at about 3.5 kts. This soon improved so we now have clear skies
and speed of about 4.5 kts and bang on course. The sea is calm and the wind is a
SEly which infers that we are to the west of the high. The barometer is steady
so we may be missing the actual low where the wind will be indeterminate and
probably not present. Fingers crossed.
Slowing in speed but still on track at
midday. |