Friday 12^th May 2023

North Atlantic Ocean 38^o 09.0 N 32^o 54.0 W 

Blog by David  (Time zone: BST -2)

Well, here we are: Bobbin’ on the Oggin.

The closer we get to the Azores, the more we are being influenced by the Azores High which is reducing the wind strength and the air is becoming more moist. Nonetheless, we managed to sail all night.  

Now, those of you who have studied any meteorology will remember that – in the English Channel at this time of year at least - as the air cools and water droplets form in the air, a light breeze of damp air over a cool sea would bring sea fog.  Well, we have discovered that it’s no different here.  And as the sun rose just before 05.00 this morning it became clear….. well, actually it didn’t,  because there was a thick fog – visibility 100-200 metres. L.

Fortunately, our radar – which has been playing hard to get since the squall a few days ago – suddenly sparked into life this morning – after a bit of coaxing -  (I’m guessing a damp connection has dried out!) so with a combination of radar and AIS we can “see” most things, we hope.

As the day progressed, the sun rose and warmed the air, the fog dispersed …. And the wind died,   Donk On!   Nonetheless, we had a good, 176 mile day’s run to noon today.

Wildlife report

It’s been a feature of this winter’s Atlantic Circuit that we haven’t seen very many dolphins.  On previous trips we have enjoyed displays of 20 or more swimming in our bow wave – indeed in 1997 I recall a group of several hundred bouncing across our stern  about half a mile behind us.  This year, they have been few and far between and in groups of 5 or less.

So it is a surprise to have been visited by several groups over the last three or four days – including 3  groups today.  Firstly, we were approached by a handful of Atlantic White sided dolphins, 6-7 feet long with unmistakable white markings on their sides.  They are not known to play with boats very much – and they didn’t -  just came by, had a look and went on their way.   

Then later  another handful of smaller speckled dolphins came by and had a desultory splash around us , and then a larger group of dolphins – over thirty – approached our stern, did quite a lot of jumping but again didn’t get close to the boat   

What Dolphins are supposed to do! These are swimming under the anchor

The wind is light at the moment, but by around 13.00 it had backed  east of south at about 8-10 kts which is a sailing breeze albeit at perhaps 6.5 knots– Donk off!  But it is forecast to become lighter overnight after which we expect to have to motor all the way to Horta.

As in life generally, in sailing you learn to roll with the punches.   Your expectations are influenced by recent experience and so, against a background of two consecutive approx. 200 mile days runs,  I announced in yesterday’s Blog.  “We should get to Horta on Saturday evening – hopefully before dark!”  .  At that point, we still had over 350 miles to go – to get to Horta in day light required us to maintain that kind of progress – but which we have not – and will not.

Right now (19.00 UTC), we still  have 199 miles to go. We expect to get there before dawn on Sunday J and hopefully before midnight!

Good night to you all.