Sunday at sea. We were visited by plenty of sea birds today and what looked like hundreds of dolphins approaching broad side-to in a long line off to port. They got close enough to have a good look at us and then turned away to the southeast, still in formation. And a ‘Shellbacks Only’ marlinspike this afternoon.
SHIPS WORK: The old main upper topsail parted today – a big vertical tear from head to foot on the port side – Captain said it was about time for a sail that’s nearly 20 years old – and all hand-made aboard this ship from natural fibre. We sent the sail down and sent up a newer one up in its place this morning.
BOUND FROM: James Bay, St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean
TOWARDS: Grenada, Windward Islands, Caribbean Sea
TIME ZONE: GMT -2
NOON POSITION: 01°32.6’N /033°36.9’W
DAYS RUN: 64nm
PASSAGE DISTANCE RUN: 2,050 nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 1,769 nm
COURSE AND SPEED: West North West, Course made good 261° true, 2.9 knots
WIND: Wind Force 2, North North East
WEATHER: Fair, 7/8 cloud cover, barometer 1015 millibars and steady, visibility good
SWELL HEIGHT & DIRECTION: East South East 1-2 m
SAILS SET: All sails set, braced up on the starboard tack
The remains of the main upper topsail