20 53.4N 20 10.7W
Fair Do's VII, Atlantic 2008....
Professor John Shepherd
Wed 26 Nov 2008 06:06
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Good morning Chris and the blog
viewers,
Things all a bit more pleasant this morning as
we've had some decent runs over last few watches (though struggling to keep High
enough on port, [which equates to west] on course for the new way point - 17 30N
26 30W) we have set ourselves which is to the NW of the most NW cape verde
islands).
The million dollar question will be when to take
the gybe......? This will likely win or lose the race I suspect.
Anyway, here is the met run down:
Current position: 20 53.4N 20 10.7W
Average wind direction: 095 - 064 (varied over last
12 hours)
Current wind direction: 070
Average windspeed: 10 - 16.5 KNTS
Current: 14 knts
Clear sky no cloud
Sea state: small swell giving us reasonable (short)
surfing conditions
Current boatspeed: 8.5 - 9 Knts
Since about 1000 yesterday we have been under A3,
then A2 at about 1800 as strength decreased a little, then A3 again at 0200
(breeze was fresheing a little and more shifty so we did not want to blow A2
whilst fatigued).......
We have generall been struggling to stay low given
the swell angle and the wind strength, direction and our sail plan. Our position
reports recieved from ARC, implied we were a little further north but west of
the key runners and riders so we have made a reasonably conscious effort to keep
good speed south so as not to give them more leverage against us and manage our
risk. The boats doing the original rhumb line (from GC to St Lucia) are
obviously so under engine and not relevant to us. However, as we get further
south we are increasingly mindful of the need to pick the gybe well to take us
no further north than is necessary round NW Cape Verde, whilst not sailing too
much extra distance South (by staying down here for the pressure). Any
comments/advice in that respect woul dbe useful (Chris T?)
P.S. Saw loads of dolphins playing round boat at
this time (sun up) yesterday and a big turtle during next watch, heres hoping
for same again! Also had some great phosphuressence of dolphins playing with us
overnight - magic.
Regards,
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