Icebergs
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Wed 18 Jun 2008 16:49
Course: Drifting
Wind: Calm
Weather: Partly cloudy, visibility good, mild
Day's Run: 43 nm
Fog and calm remain the dominant weather pattern at the moment, plus ice!
I've had the drifter up and down four times in the last 24 hours, we've
motored and sailed and motor sailed and drifted, and have managed to make
only 43 miles. We now have about 30 miles to go to St Johns. I have been
motoring for much of the morning and now am having a bit of a rest. Last
night we got around Cape Race at last, just before sunset, motoring I am
afraid. The ice reports we received over the radio indicated that we would
encounter icebergs once we got around Cape Race and they have proven
correct. At 4.30 this morning, just before sunrise, there off the port beam
was revealed a small iceberg aground in a place called Frenchmans Cove. We
drifted under the drifter for a couple of hours after this and started
motoring again at 6.45 a.m. Ahead, playing hide and seek in a fog bank, was
another iceberg, this one definitely on the large size. I lost sight of it
a couple of times in the fog but eventually we came up to it. It took some
time in part because I had underestimated its size and consequently it was
further away then I thought. I will post a few photos of it when we get to
St Johns, hopefully sometime tomorrow. We were in 83 meters of water but I
suspect it also might have been aground as it appeared to have a large crack
through the middle of it. I didn't want to get too close to confirm this
however because when large chunks of ice break off an iceberg they can cause
sizable waves which can easily damage a small boat if it is too close.
As we continued motoring up the coast more icebergs were revealed in the
many bays that indent the coastline here about, all of them aground I would
think. Apart from the first large one the waters off shore have been clear
of ice so I feel pretty comfortable making the rest of the passage to St
Johns. Also the moon is full so if there is no fog and not too much cloud
we should be OK to continue sailing tonight, that is if there is any wind.
The sun is shining now but I think I will have rest for an hour or two
before motoring some more to make sure we will be able to reach St Johns
comfortably tomorrow.
All is well.
Bob Cat:
Catching up on some sleep sounds like a very good idea, the patio is very
pleasant at this time of day.