Sunday 01/05/11

1200UT Position 38:53.9N  36:34.0W

Distance run 1200 - 1200UT: 149NM

1200UT  COG 090M, SOG 6.8ts, wind 332M 21kts, baro 1020 now rising

1200UT Temperatures: Air 19, Sea 40 (we suspect the instrument is misreading!)

Intention: to sail to Horta on Faial (367NM) with alternative of Lajes on Flores (257NM) if weather deteriorates

 

A cracking afternoon's white sail reach in the sun ended after sunset when the wing veered and increased to over 23, gusting 26, knots, and we continued through the night with reefed sails, poor visibilty and an increasingly rough sea.  With a brief respite around dawn, these conditions coninue although clouds have cleared and the sun is out.  We are making good progress on a bumpy ride and enjoyed the spectacle of a number of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins riding our bow wave. 

 

We are watching the progess of a Low tracking East to our North and as a precautionary measure have altered course to head for Flores, the most westerly of the Azores, in case we need to seek shelter.  Horta is a further 110 miles to the south east and hopefully we will still be able to get there before the Low's effects are felt. .