Azores to Dartmouth, Day 3 - Saturday June 5, 2010
Azores to Dartmouth, Day 3 - Saturday
June 5, 2010 At 1200 hrs UT: 42:44.5N 26:45.2W Distance to Dartmouth: 1055 Nautical
Miles
Well, today we were a contender for the Knightime's record of 'most windless day yet'. We bobbed along at about the rate of the Portuguese-Man-o-War which still pass us by daily, for some of the day. The long, low, rolling seas and gently rocking boat are beautifully serene, but our slow progess can be frustrating so we motor-boated (both for comfort and for speed) on and off throughout the day.
The 4 hour shift rotation has made a big difference to the Kinghtrider's lives, we are a sleepy, quiet crew today as we all steal winks at every precious opportunity.
Even our marine life visit of the day was calm and silent, but the nevertheless beautiful. A group of large dolphins/small whales/possibly porpoises popped up their dorsal fins and blow holes a few meters from the boat. It was a fleeting visit before they disappeared back down into the ocean depths. Again, our collective expertise on marine mammals fails us, and we wonder if anyone else can identify todays visitors - charcoal black, bulbous headed, 10-12 foot long - any ideas? Answers on a postcard/in a bottle, please.
Finally some nautical details for those interested in our route. We're currently heading North to reach a point where, according to Hoff, the Gulf Stream splits around and through the land mass of Europe. Here we can pick up the Northwest current which will sweep us in to the English Channel, neatly avoiding the notoriously rough Bay of Biscay.
As we write, we have just polished off one of Martin's famous strawberry rice puddings, the wind has picked up, the sails are billowing nicely again, and the fishing line is having a dusk-time dip, so fingers crossed...
Until tomorrow,
Charlotte
+ Hoff, Martin & Michael (Beer) |