We are currently in position 33 32N 059 53W, saillng at 6 knots on a course of 080M. The wind is S at 18-20 knots with 1.5m sea and 1.5m swell. We are sailing under single-reefed main and double-furled yankee. Scattered high cloud with sunshine! Our day's run was 121nm, our DMG was 123nm and we have 1538nm to go.
Yesterday afternoon the weather gradually improved with less frequent rain. By late evening we could actually see some stars and the squalls had gone. At midnight we shook out the second reef and had a very pleasant sail under one reef and double-furled yankee.
Every 12 hours we download the latest GRIB files from PredictWind. We also get routing recommendations from them which are based on four weather models. Below is this morning's PWG GRIB with the routes overlaid. Our position is the white dot. The GRIB is shaded with predicted rainfall and also shows isobars and wind arrows. The blue band to our west is the stalled cold front which we sailed through over the last 36 hours or so. The front is supposed to move slowly east and disperse, hopefully with us still clear of it!
PredictWind GRIB and recommended routes
We are expecting a period of lighter winds over the next day or two. We're hoping they'll remain over 8-10 knots which is enough to keep the boat moving well. The high shown in the GRIB above is predicted to move SE and fill in, with moderate W winds appearing in a couple of days. That will be nice if it happens!
Very nice sailing conditions now and the boat is slowly drying out. Amazing the difference a little sun makes!
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