At midday we find ourselves in light easterly winds. This morning around dawn we were overtaken by a large wet squall. Not overly powerful but it covered a large patch of ocean. Lots of rain and a 90 degree wind shift for a couple hours. Chief Mate Erin and her 4 to 8 watch did a fine job of squall management. But when the squall passed, it took our sailing breeze with it. At 7 degrees south, we are approaching the doldrums. Back in the day sailing ships could get stuck in these equatorial doldrums sometimes for weeks. Wind is the fuel of the sailing ship engine. Right now we are picking up speed to almost 3 knots so we are not doing badly at all. For now.
From: St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean
Towards: Grenada, Windward Isles, Eastern Caribbean of the West Indies.
Date: April 9, 2019
Noon position: 07-04S / 022-41W
Course and speed: WNW or 294° true at 1.8 knots
Wind force and direction: East at force 2
Seas/swell: moderate seas of 1 – 2 metres from E and SE
Barometer: 1017 steady
Sky: Half covered with cloud, some cumulus vertical development, sunny, blue skies
Water temperature: 28.6C – 84F
Distance made good in 24 hours: 110 nautical miles
Passage log: 1,209 nautical miles
Voyage log: 23,267 nautical miles
Distance to next port: 2,594 nautical miles as the barracuda swims