A NIGHT OF SQUALLS

It started last night around seven.  First an unsettling motion and confused sea and then a night of squalls.  I was up all night trying to get through without losing to much of the precious ground we had made to the east.  We succeeded getting twenty-three miles to the east and also came out with a reasonable days run.

We are still heading into the wind on the port tack and shipping heavy spray.  We have all the deck hatches shut and its hot inside the boat now.  It was even hotter than normal this morning when I produced some blueberry muffins.  Much to the delight of Jessica.

The latest forecast is for twenty knot winds for the next two days.  At the moment, I am jogging into a twenty-five knot wind and big sea for some rest and recuperation.  We may stay like this for a few hours before heading on.  No point in hurrying to get beaten up.  Also disappointing is the latest Predict Wind forecast for the doldrums.  They are now showing them opening and taking days to cross.

So, a big change in the forecast and I am not a happy camper.  A simple trade wind run is turning into a long haul.  We will just take it easy and assess the situation later.  Voyage distance 465 miles.