Head Winds Ahead
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Tue 12 Mar 2024 01:45
Course: NE Speed: 5.5 knots
Wind: SW, F4 - moderate breeze
Sea: slight Swell: E 1m
Weather: overcast, mild
Day's Run: 80 nm
The wind fell light yesterday afternoon then faded out to a dead calm for several hours. Having already spent several hours motoring, I decided to hand sail and drift until the wind returned while I had enjoyed a bit of a siesta. The wind returned just on sunset. I set sail again and we enjoyed a nice breeze for the remainder of the night. The breeze was initially from the NNE making for a close reach, then as the night wore on it gradually backed into the SW and we are now running before it wing-on-wing, making good a comfortable five knots as we wend our way amongst the Bass Strait oil rigs.
Unfortunately the fair breeze is not going to stay with us for long. It is forecast to clock around into the east later this evening at 15-20 knots and remain there until early Thursday. Consequently, I do not expect to be making much ground towards our destination over the next 36 hours or so.
All is well.