And the next low pressure system comes through bringing near gale force winds for the day. PICTON CASTLE is crawling along upwind under short sail trying to make the best of these conditions.
Fortunately for us this was only to last the day. In the late afternoon the barometer began rising again and at the evening watch change we had Upper Topsail set again and continued to work our way to the North, looking forward to a wind shift and the forecast southerlies late in the week. It’s amazing how quickly the Ocean can change. Just a few days ago on the other side of the Gulf Stream we were all in t-shirts and shorts still marvelling at the deep blue water; now it’s all hats, jumpers and sea boots. The water temperature has fallen considerably since we left the Gulf Stream and the colour of the water has gone grey, similar to what we remember from the start of the voyage, we must be getting close to land again.
SHIP’S WORK: Move and re-stitch leather on MONOMOY oars; Lashings about deck and below.
FROM: La Rochelle, France
TOWARDS: Quebec, Canada
TIME ZONE: ZD +3
NOON POSITION: 42°42’N / 053°49’W
DAYS RUN: 83nm
PASSAGE LOG: 3924nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 664nm
COURSE AND SPEED: N x W, 4kts
WIND: W, Force 7 – 8
WEATHER: Rain and Squalls, air temp: 20°C, water temp: 18°C
SWELL HEIGHT & DIRECTION: W’rly, 11 – 14ft
SAILS SET: Lower Topsails, Foresail, Fore & Main Topmast Staysails and the foot of the Spanker