47:15.000n 26:01.700w

Distance to home:  1076 miles

Distance run today:  86 miles  

Course 190

Some of you are reporting the arrival of summer at home.  We’re glad you have it but it’s all pretty foul out here as we are experiencing some adverse weather. We are 15 miles closer to you than this time yesterday and that has been hard work.

Domestic

It’s cold, damp and the bread won’t rise properly.  We can go into the cockpit with care but it’s blowing 30 knots and raining on and off so there is not much appetite for this.

We are all “push on” types so it is taking us a little while to acclimatise to the situation and we have each started to do this in our own way.  Once everyone finishes catching up on sleep and cursing quietly the plan is to break out the quiz book and cards and play some tunes on the boom box.

There is too much movement of the boat for much else. 

Sailing

We tried to go north yesterday to minimise the impact of a big low running up behind us, but the wind was building all the time and firmly from the east where we want to go.  We slowed to a minimum speed once we were not making any further ground for home and at 2 am Tim decided that it was time to heave to. 

Heaving to is a trick from the days of square riggers and puts a small headsail pushing one way and the rudder against it.  The effect is to pretty much stop the boat (we are now making about 1.5 knots to the South) and make it much more steady and comfortable than sailing on into the wind and heavy seas. 

It’s now just a matter of watching for traffic on AIS and by looking out occasionally and waiting for the weather to break.

Natural History

Nothing much to report as we aren’t looking out much.

Today’s Responses

Gemma – Well I was gonna say Happy Birthday! But I always seem to get the 4^th and the 6^th of June mixed up, this year I gambled and went with the 6^th and it appears it hasn’t paid off, maybe next year eh!? Hope you enjoyed your day and filling your car with fuel….? x

Laura – Thanks for the news snippets, especially about Bruce Jenna, massive fan, good on him/her! I see where you are coming from now regarding texting, Lamorna managed to send one successfully the other day, see if she can help. How bizarre that you are on pretty much exactly the same page as me, I stopped on 101 after I read about geology and ancient welsh tribe names, tempted to skip a few of the dull chapters, it looks better towards the end…. Nice one on the interview let me know what they say….x

Richard – thanks for news.  America’s Cup now making sense.  We think still day 31 but now have time to check.

Dave P – Crew well aware of Jez’s attraction towards sandbanks.  None out here to report. 

Lizzie – I think 1.5m is pretty good.  Well done.

Em – glad the sun is shining.  We just have the storms bit.  Hope the usual Saturday chaos goes well.

Mum (Pat) – Good news.

Gran – Thanks for the world cup chat

Bye for now

Sadie