Azores Inbound - Day 13

Hi everyone,
We are currently in position 37 18N 035 39W, saillng at 5 knots on a course of 125M. The wind is WSW at 14-18 knots with a 1m sea and 2m swell.  We are sailing under double-reefed main and single-furled yankee.  Broken cirrus cloud overhead with mid-level cloud around the horizon.  Our day's run was 107nm (see below), our DMG was 116nmnm and we have 340nm to go.

The day's run above is clearly incorrect since our DMG is higher.  The log impeller continued to freeze yesterday afternoon but I think we've fixed it now.  Amazing how much trouble a strand of hair can cause.  I estimate we actually did 160nm yesterday and 130nm today, based on our DMGs and the degree to which we off the direct course.

For those interested in the unusual - we noticed an unusual characteristic of our position yesterday evening.  The magnitudes of our latitudes and longitudes were equal.  More than unusual at home in Australia since it can't happen beyond +/-90 degrees longitude.  We didn't notice it in the South Atlantic shortly after leaving St Helena.  Nor did we notice it enroute from Richards Bay to Port Elizabeth in South Africa.  So now we've crossed three of the four "lines" on which the equality occurs.  The only other one (NE from 0N 0E) is most easily crossed in the eastern Med.  No plans to complete the set at present! ;)

Latitude == Longitude

Yesterday afternoon winds decreased to 20-25 knots from the WNW.  It was a fairly dreary afternoon with overcast sky and frequent drizzle.  It was cold too, with the air brought to us from _way_ north by the depression to our NE.  In the evening the wind lightened to 15-20 knots with periods of 20-25 in showers.  The cloud became broken but the drizzle turned to occasional rain.  We spent most of the night under yankee only which was very quiet but not fast!

At 0500 we hoisted the main with a single reef.  This got us moving nicely.  The rain stopped and the skies slowly cleared.  At the moment there is a light covering of high cirrus cloud overhead but heavier mid-level clouds all around.  Nice to be having a little sun before the next depression comes through.

At 0900 we gybed onto starboard tack as the wind went into the WSW.  We expect it to continue backing and this evening it should start increasing again.  We'll follow it around until heading for Horta.  We expect 30-35 knots tonight and tomorrow morning and will have the boat tidied up in preparation for the last blow of the passage.

Trust all's well where you are.