Azores Passage Day 3
Starcross Fair Log
Ross Wilson
Thu 21 Apr 2011 13:32
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Thursday 21/04/11
1200UT Position 34:47.1N
61:13.4W
Distance run 1200 - 1200UT:
134NM
1200UT COG 085M, SOG 6.1kts, wind
190M 7kts, baro 1021 steady
1200UT Temperatures: Air 22, Sea
20
Intention: to sail to Horta on Faial in
the Azores (1,572NM)
In the early afternoon the wind dropped
to under 5 knots and the engine was used until sunset at 2246UT when 9
knots from the South East encouraged sailing. This steadily increased and
veered overnight with very satisfactory boat speeds of over 7 knots being
achieved. We continue to try to strike a balance between steering a Great
Circle course towards Horta and making north to between 35 and 36N where better
wind from the South West is expected, whilst maintaing a sensible angle
with available wind. Hopefully we will be in the 35/36N 'belt' by
later tonight.
We enjoyed good communications with
Skylla at our 1400UT meeting. She is also making good progress but had to
stop to remove a rope wrapped round her prop; apparently John had a refreshing
swim in a relatively calm patch of sea. We were joined by Ocean Wanderer
another ex -ARC yacht we met on the ARC HF net. She is also bound for
Horta direct from St Martin and was 350NM to our South East. We look
forward to a reunion paryt on arrival. We may also have
communications with another small ex-ARC group believed to be setting out
shortly and affectionately known as the Jerryarctrics!
In the previous passage to Bermuda we
had noted a lack of wild life. Yesterday we saw over 12 dolphins, believed
to be Atlantic Spotted, who cruised alongside for a while, and the occasional
jellyfish which appeared to have deployed a wing above the surface, perhaps to
blow it along? Three seabirds were also spotted and 2 tankers passed close
by.
Della's inaugural supper of beef stew
was cooked to perfection and went down (and stayed down) well!
More
tomorrow! |