We are currently in position 43 04N 025 05W, saillng at 5.5 knots on a course of 060M. The wind is NNW at 12-14 knots with a slight sea and 1m swell. We are sailing under single-reefed main and single-furled yankee. Broken mid-level cloud gradually clearing. Our day's run was 130nm, our DMG was 93nm and we have 932nm to go.
Sailing in the fog yesterday
Yesterday afternoon the wind continued to veer to the WNW at 10-12 knots, with extensive fog patches. At 1600 the wind dropped out to less than 5 knots and we started the engine. I don't like motoring in fog. While sailing one has the chance of hearing any nearby vessels but with the motor on all you have is the Mk 1 eyeball and AIS. Happily there was no traffic about, or none we saw!
At 2100 the fog cleared, rain started and a new NNW wind of 5-8 knots appeared. We stopped the motor and resumed sailing. Gradually the rain cleared and the clouds started to break up. Twas a chilly night. It was the shortest night of the year (summer solstice) and very nearly a full moon too. The moon was very bright when it found a gap in the clouds.
By 0600 this morning we had over 20 knots of NNW wind and had two reefs in the main. The boat was cruising along at a steady 7 knots in quite flat water. That wind only lasted 2-3 hours and we're now sailing along nicely in about 12 knots of wind.
Our low DMG appears to show we had current against us during the last 24 hours. We've been heading directly for Falmouth for most of the time so current must be setting us back. Hopefully we'll get some current assistance later.
The weather outlook continues to look good. The big high to our W is gradually heading our way and is expected to be N of the Azores in a week or so. It seems to be keeping the lows well away from us. It looks like we'll have light winds from the N - NW which will be nice reaching conditions. All the boats on the SSB net are marvelling at our collective luck and are sure it can't last!
Gotta go. Bacon butties for lunch!
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