This entry for the 18th July was sent but didn't log onto the system:
18 1430 UT July 09 Horta 612 miles
Our bests day's run to date ended at 0800 this morning, logging 156 miles
through the water and a little more overground with the gift of current.
Horta is getting closer and the rate of our descent through the 40's of
Longitude has been very satisfying. The weather remains light SW breezes,
becoming lighter later today, so progress is likely to slow then. The sun
is powerful and seeking shade under the mainsail is a full time afternoon
activity. The seas are as smooth as they probably ever get in the middle of
an ocean. The cruising shute is pulling us along at over 6 knots and it is
gloriously smooth and quiet for a change. Cannot even hear the wind
generator.
Have not seen any green turtles as sighted by other yachts in the vicinity
but did see a large grey whale this morning and a pair of unrecognised sea
birds with long tails which swooped over the cockpit and shrieked at us for
10 mins. 2 more dead flying fish on deck this morning. I ship
passed at a mile, on a reciprocal course towards USA. Further sightings of
Jupiter have been made and it is confirmed, it remains firmly fixed in the
heavens!
It seems there are still several OSTAR yachts in Horta but some will have
left by the time we make it, possibly Thursday next week.
Paul showed me how to load and use the MP3 player I acquired 3 years ago, so
the night watch was super, with a choice of personal music, whilst lying
prone in the cockpit admiring the wonderfully clear night sky. The moon is
nearly new and the nights are very dark.
Today's secondary task is to resolve why the distance to waypoint will not
show on the cockpit repeater display. This will be part of the NMEA
nightmare on this boat, as she has at least 6 different makes of electronics
fitted, all interfaced to them selves and the laptop. It should be an
electronics' geeks goldmine of fun but for normal folk, quite difficult to
fathom out. Ground loops are believed to be the culprit but where and how
to stop them is the hard part.
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