47:31.8N 50:40.7W

Thursday 30 degrees, Friday back down to 17. Had made rash decision to abandon thermal PJs (Ed. A very fetching set of camouflage thermals from the local hunting shop).  Need to toughen up. 

Packet Inn delayed their departure from Bonavista so they could wave us off.  “it’s not everyday people are leaving for the Azores” Sailed with them around the point , past the lighthouse we visited last year. Then both went our separate ways. Sad to be leaving new found friends and leaving a lot of The Rock unexplored but it is a very short sailing season and the climate is brutal. 

A short night. Clear sky and full moon. F watched an amazing moonrise. Magical. Great pics of the sky will have to wait until we have full wifi. The Cod fishing season has opened and we are crossing the Grand Banks. Thirty years ago this area was fished until there were no cod left and the whole eco system collapsed. Fishing was banned and it has only now recovered , but strict quotas are in place to prevent a repeat.  The bird song at night was quite remarkable. A very slow gentle start but great for first night watches. 

Have reluctantly motored for a number of hours as and when the wind dropped. Beautiful sunny day today and the wind finally picked up mid afternoon. Blowing a gentle 11 knots at mo, making 6 knots on a close reach. 

Spotted a couple of dorsal fins swimming at speed in the opposite direction - whale species unknown. 

Lots of single puffins out here on The Grand Banks. Funny little things, very quick to dive as the boat approaches- have yet to spot them resurface. 

Grateful for the radar. A number of what look like buoyed lobster pots spotted, instead of a flag on a pole, have a radar reflector. Useful to have fore warning. A fishing vessel appeared to be pulling up a net? Not close enough to see exactly. Need to make further enquiries.