Have now been becalmed for 1.5 days. Lovely sunshine, but time becoming a pressure.  Being a bit behind schedule already is not great.  ( Position    48:25.16N 34:21.44W     )

 

The weather forecast data suggests at least another 36 hours of similar conditions.  Losing that amount of additional time just sitting tight now seems a less satisfactory option.  For this reason we’ve motored 30 M north to try and move to an area of some wind.  That has not worked.  At present trying another 30 M to see if that improves the situation. 

 

The effect on wildlife has been interesting.  All the different varieties of birds that were swooping in and out of the waves, even when we were in gale conditions, are now just sitting in spread-out groups in the water, waiting for the same thing as me.  I guess it’s a real effort to fly if you have to provide all the power yourself.  The spread out pattern of the groups of birds is interesting too.  Maybe it’s nice to hang out with your mates  -  but there is closeness, and there is being too close. 

 

Without relatively silent movement through the water and the bow and stern waves that that produces, we have not attracted any mammalian life.  The engine seems to put them off, but the ripply effect of the bow and stern waves when sailing seems an attractant – that is certainly what they play in and out of when they appear. 

 

Have been trolling for fish, having had the time to do it, and having eaten the non-tinned protein on board.  No luck yet.