Fog is Back (27 June retransmitted)

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 27 Jun 2014 04:41
Noon position (27 June): 44 58.2 N 153 25.9 E
Course: East nor' east, Speed 4.5 knots
Wind: south sou' east F3 gentle breeze
Weather: fog, mild
Day's run: 123 nm

We have enjoyed another very pleasant 24 hours with clear skies, a gentle
breeze, and smooth seas. But of course good things cannot last forever. Just
before noon we sailed into some fog. Interestingly, the sea temperature has
not changed, and sits at a relatively comfortable 11 degrees, but the air
temperature has gotten slightly warmer over the last few hours, jumping up
from about 10 degrees to 15 degrees, so presumable we have moved into a
different air mass with more moisture in it, which is consequently
precipitating out into fog over the cooler sea.

Other than the fog, for now the conditions remain pleasant, with a nice
gentle beam breeze and smooth seas drawing Sylph along at a pleasantly
respectable four knots. Unfortunately, as mentioned yesterday, this too will
change over the next couple of days. The low pressure system approaching
from the south west will pass to the east of us, bringing stronger winds and
causing them to back into the north east – a headwind. The low does not look
too intense so hopefully the winds will not be too strong and it will just
be a matter of plugging to windward for a few days before we get a more
favourable slant, but just in cast conditions do get a little windy I have
have rigged the staysail on its inner forestay. Hopefully we will not need
it.

Now I must do some fault finding with the engine. I tried to start it a
little while ago, just to check it as it has not been run for a few days,
and found that there is no power to the key start. The batteries seem OK so
presumably a problem in the wiring somewhere.

All is well.