Day 72 – Steady Sailing

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Wed 23 Feb 2022 14:28
Noon Position: 43 33.2 S 027 22.2 W
Course: E Speed: 6.5 knots
Wind: WNW, F5 Sea: moderate
Swell: WSW 3 meters
Weather: overcast, mild
Day’s Run: 154nm

It has been an uneventful 24 hours which is nice, so not much to report today. The wind has been a steady force five from the west and Sylph has run before it at near constant 6.5 knots, wing-on-wing, mostly with two reefs in the main and 60% jib. This morning the wind eased a bit and I set full sail but at 10.00 a gust came through which had me put a reef back in the main.
I look around at the grey sea and sky (though the odd patch of blue is breaking through the clouds). The wind is steady and true, the seas moderate and the swell long and easy. One can see why this was a major route for the old square riggers. What a sight one of those must have made. They were beautiful ships but I remind myself not to be romantic, just how harsh life was for their crews, particularly how brutal the American ships were. (I will here resist the urge to climb onto my left tilting soap-box).
All is well.