Day 145 – Fresh Breeze

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 7 May 2022 07:07
Noon Position: 02 41.7 N 083 27.0 E
Course: ESE Speed: 7 knots
Wind: WSW F4 Sea: moderate
Swell: SW 2m
Weather: overcast, hot, humid
Day’s Run: 170 nm

We continue to enjoy a fresh following breeze and a favourable current allowing for another excellent day’s run. Indeed, I have been somewhat conservative in putting two reefs in the main for the night. Even so we still maintained a good seven knots. This forenoon I think we have left the current behind as our speed has dropped about a knot with no appreciable change in the wind direction or speed. So I have shaken the second reef out and we continue under single reefed main and full jib poled to starboard, with the speed back up to seven knots.
We crossed paths with a merchant ship, the Scarlet Falcon, this forenoon and I took the opportunity to do another AIS check. Again the ship reported that they were receiving a good signal from Sylph so I am not sure what the problem has been with the marine traffic websites, though from my perspective the main thing is that other ships can see me and that I can see them. Certainly ships show up on AIS long before I can see them visually. With the high humidity visibility is around five to six miles, and in rain squalls it is next to zero. While technology is always a bit of a two edged sword, I think AIS really is a great safety aid for the small ocean-going yacht, especially when single-handed.
All is well.