Day’s Run – 10 April 2019

At noon we are sailing along in nice winds, but surrounded by squalls. Took in royal in advance of a dark squall approaching from the starboard quarter. Yesterday afternoon winds laid down to nothing so we fired up the main engine and steamed through the night with a usable wind making up after dawn. Set sail and shut down. It could be like this the next few days. The strategy is to sail near to and north of Fernando De Noronha Island off the northeast corner of Brazil, then press on until we find the nice strong favourable currents along the coast to carry us on our way. Should see fresh northeasterly North Atlantic trades after crossing the Line.

Date: April 10, 2019

From: St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean

Towards: Grenada, Windward Isles, Eastern Caribbean of the West Indies

Noon position: 06-00S / 024-40W

Course and speed: WNW1/2N or 302° true at 4.2 knots

Wind force and direction:  ESE at force 3

Seas/swell: moderate seas of 1+ metre from the east and SE. Also a northerly swell. Must be from the NE trades across the equator

Barometer: 1016 steady

Sky: clear overhead, surrounded by rain squall clouds of cumulus vertical development

Water temperature: 29C – 84F

Distance made good in 24 hours: 134 nautical miles

Passage log: 1,343 nautical miles

Voyage log: 23,401 nautical miles

Distance to next port: 2,458 nautical miles as the tropic bird flies