Simply Flying
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 19 Mar 2016 22:51
Course: South west Speed: 6.5 knots
Wind: North east, F4 – moderate breeze
Sea: moderate Swell: North east 2 meters
Weather: mostly sunny, mild
Day’s run: 161 nm
The wind has remained fresh and fair, regular trade wind weather, and good old Sylph has posted an excellent day’s run of over 160 nm. The wind has continued to slowly veer, now just north of east (east by north in the old parlance) consequently, while running wing on wing, we are starting to be pushed to the west of our rhumb line. I do not want to allow us to be pushed too far to the west as that will be ground that we might have to claw back to windward later on. On the other hand the winds will get lighter as we approach the equator and enter the doldrums (or the inter-tropical convergence zone in the clumsy modern parlance). Sylph sails well into light headwinds so as long as the swell is low the doldrums would be a good area for regaining ground to the east. But the doldrums are still a long way off and will have their own challenges, with light and variable winds and numerous thunderheads.
We are on our rhumb line now so I will go for another 24 hours as we are, unless the wind veers even further into the south-east though there is no way that should happen, and see where we end up. If we have to drop the pole and beam reach in this fresh breeze then the ride is all of a sudden going to be a lot less comfortable then that which I am enjoying right now, so I am putting such a course alteration off for as long as I can. Meanwhile ...
All is well.