A squally day of sunshine, showers and rainbows. Squalls are unpredictable and can bring rain, strong winds and wind-shifts so the Mate of the watch is constantly on the alert for them, scanning the weather horizon and the radar to get as much warning as possible. Then they have time to call the Captain, make sure their people are in waterproofs, see that sails are shortened down if necessary and that the helmsman is ready to put the wheel over and run before the wind.
Usually it’s all over in a couple of minutes and we can get back on course.
SHIP’S WORK: Sailing the ship is still the focus. The watches have been training in tying basic knots, practicing sea-stowing the outer jib, and more practice taking weather observations. On their off-watch Colin and Sam H made a nice leather patch that laces onto the spanker boom to prevent the boom chafing against the shrouds when sheeted right out.
Bosun and Captain took up a little on the main t’gallant shrouds and head rig headstays with a small gang.
BOUND FROM: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
TOWARDS: Flores Island, Azores
TIME ZONE: ZD + 4
NOON POSITION: 40°43.4’N /056°07.9W
DAYS RUN: 128nm
PASSAGE LOG: 399nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 1,140 nm
COURSE AND SPEED: SExE1/2E (113°True), 6.3kts
WIND: S, Force 5
WEATHER: 7/8 cloud cover (Strato-cumulus), 57F (14°C), sea surface temp 68F (20°C) barometer reading 1022 millibars
SWELL HIGHT & DIRECTION: 6-8 feet, North by West
SAILS SET: topsails, mainsail and foresail, inner jib and foretopmast staysail.