Yesterday was the most challenging day of this trip. As the wind dropped we started to motor sail but Kahia would not pick up more than 4 knots of SOG (speed over the ground). Paul’s concern grew, we stopped the engine and he snorkelled under the hull but nothing was wrong with the propeller. I had noticed that he had not thrown some let over food over the water before gently gliding into it and that he was quick coming back on board. It was no time to feed any shark lurking in the unknown waters.

 Being over 500 nm away from land with doubts on the engine performance and fuel consumption, we discussed all kinds of way forward, Paul studying the last Grib file (Weather info) section by section. It didn’t help to see a low forming over the Azores in the coming days... We tryed to sail unsuccessfully at several occasions and once lost our steerage causing Kahia to spin around 360˚. What a disconcerting experience!

 With engine back on trying to make good our drift caused by the current, we realised the bubbly sea and wondered if we could be in an eddy or where the current split... By the evening our watch system was completely up the creek and we were tired and decided to head off to Lisbon, running off down wind and playing safe. After five minutes of feeling the disappointment we turned around and motor sailed toward St. Miguel 426 NM away. Restarting a two-hourly watch system to recharge ourselves gently, we entered the darkest night of the trip, with heavy clouds, head winds and waves.

What a relief, when at 0400 hrs UTC rainclouds (the cold-front of the depression we motored through) brought enough wind for us to start sailing  again.

Kahia is now living up to her “Bowman” reputation, is well powered up with 1 reef in the main sail, full stay sail and partly furled fore-sail, beating to windward at 6-7 knots SOG, in a very comfortable and confident manner.

We are adjusting to life at an angle down below!

Very happy to be on our way to the Azores  with only 349 nm to St.Miguel, now sailing over a deep azure blue sea in lovely sunshine.