What weather?!!
Sat 23 June 1610GMT. 48 15N 15 52W. COG 010T. SOG 5.0Kts. 24hrs 122. To Plymouth 475nm.
After Herb called last night for gales and possible storm force winds if we went east of 16N, ‘Fai Terra’ and I made a beeline NNW overnight. By the time we spoke by radio at 0900 this morning, I had downloaded weather GRIBs and weather fax none of which seem to support Herb’s fears. Too late, we are in an different weather system which won’t allow us to sail a course for Plymouth even if we want to.
My weather info does show stiff winds ahead for Sunday and Monday and possibly Tuesday but nothing we couldn’t cope with. Our current plan is to wait for the winds to back round to the N and then get back on course. Of course we are wary and are constantly seeking new weather info to be sure we are doing the right thing. If the winds are in the north we can always turn around and sail back west.
I’m afraid it hasn’t done anything for my spirits. I had been watching the weather so closely and felt that I had a reasonably clear run in though strong winds on Sun/Mon as I have said. I guess I was hoping that all the difficult winds of the voyage were behind me. I was beginning to count my chickens!
I guess the people at the Glastonbury Festival are feeling pretty sorry for themselves too, not to mention my brother Rob, starting his summer holiday on his new boat today.
I should be celebrating the passing of the 500nm to go point but it suddenly seems like a long way to have to sail.
It is a great comfort having ‘Fai Terra’ out here with me. We are speaking 4 times a day now comparing weather info. Not that they have much to share with me but it is very nice to be able to chew it over.