Day 76 – Light and Baffling

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sun 27 Feb 2022 14:12
Noon Position: 41 04.0 S 015 31.6 W
Course: ENE Speed: 4 knots
Wind: WNW, F3 Sea: slight
Swell: WSW 3 meters
Weather: cloudy, mild
Day’s Run: 109 nm

Overnight the wind has gradually faded and all this morning, since 0600, I have been chasing what wind there is with constant sail changes and trimming of sheets.
For a while we were beam reaching with the wind in the south, then running square with the wind in the west, then with the drifter up and the mainsail down as the wind was too light for the mainsail to hold its shape, then we were beam reaching with the wind in the north, and now we are once more running square with the jib poled out to port and the mainsail out to starboard with one reef to reduce the slamming of the sail as Sylph rolls in the still significant swell ... Nope, wind in the north again – down pole and full mainsail for a port beam reach.
The forecast is for the wind to increase a little this afternoon. I have my fingers crossed as a few more knots of breeze will make all the difference between nerve wrenching slatting and of sails and slamming of rig versus a smooth, peaceful, relaxing sail.
I ran the engine for a short while yesterday. It started okay and the oil pressure warning light did not come on but I was disappointed to find on checking the dip stick that the oil is starting to go milky grey again.
In amongst all the sail changes I saw a Great Wandering Albatross this morning, soaring the swells.
All is well.