Now too much wind

ULA
John & Jackie Richards
Thu 4 Dec 2008 12:39
Position 017:17.40N 036:22.80W
 
Well folks its your skipper on the blog again with tidings from the mid Atlantic. We have been bemoaning that the  trade winds are absent and we have had light winds for several days. Yesterday was a good day with good winds and good speed. We put away the spinnaker when it got dark and just caught a Spannish boat who is not in the ARC but left at the same time. They were headed for Antigua. We sailed along side them for 6 hours but at 4.00 am all hell broke loose when a squall line hit us. These little beasts are mini storms and you try to avoid them by steering away as they can have strong winds inside. In this cvase no matter what Adrian and Jackie did it seemed to be everywhere and so we got hit. All the sails were down and under motor it poured there was lightning and strong winds. It took 2 hours to pass and then the wind settled down to 20+ knots thats force 6.
 
Everyone on deck got soaked but we are now drying out and getting the boat and crew back to ship shape. In todays information from ARC Big Spirit reported a squall line hitting them with the same effect. Probably the same one but alot of squalls were around last night.
 
We passed the half way point in miles today so although we are still behind on schedule we are getting there. Winds up ahead are still forecast to be light for the next couple of days excluding squalls.
 
Jackie may blog later.
 
John