A change in the weather
The Travels of Running Tide
Mick Norman
Thu 17 Jul 2014 12:28
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Our position at 12 00 on 17 July is
43:23.3N 022:21.8W . We have about 791 nm to run to Land’s End and we have
completed 139 nm in the last day. Four full days completed.
16 July – With the wind increasing in
strength we were picking up speed 6s with occasional 7kts +. In the end it was a
reef. High level whispy clouds where gathering and a change was in the air.
After the evening started clear the cloud came in a eventually it started to
rain but not heavily. We had company, we spotted a yacht lights over on our
starboard bow probably 4/5nm away.
17 July – During the night we
continued to make excellent progress until the expected change in the weather
brought the wind around to the stern and we were wallowing around for a while.
At first light we jibed onto a port run which rapidly changed to a port broad
reach and then to a reach. The other yacht has left us. I learnt from Norm that
in the night our neighbour had passed behind us and headed northerly. I was
concerned to know why, if they were having problems and managed to make contact
with them on the VHF radio. They were fine. Going a little slower than us and
had decided to follow a more northerly track. The boat was called
Wander.
We are now established on our port
reach overcast skies but making a good speed. Should be a good mileage today.
The situation we find ourselves is a little at odds with our latest forecast
which predicts wind from the south as opposed to the NW. Anyway if we fast
forward a day on our forecast we get what I think we have now.
Norm has badly miscalculated and we
are running short of Ps. Worry not, we won’t starve. We have plenty of Smash and
other things that Norm doesn’t like, like pasta and rice. Most of our food seems
to be out of date. We are of the opinion that if it looks OK and smells OK it is
OK. So three packets of custard powder that smelt a bit rank went in the bin
yesterday. We did buy it in 2011.
Norm is furiously polishing the boat
brass plaque each day to ensure good wind. Please note
Sally. |