Nutcracker - Cabin boy summary: waiting for the Low

Weather south of Canaries for day or so after the start is gentle SE'lies.
Outlook is for a depression with front some 2-3 days out across the
'northern' route to St Lucia - in fact the great circle route, virtually
west magnetic. Lighter winds and variable turning into a wind hole going the
'southern' route - in fact south west. Both were forecast to be the
principal conditions for the period until we reach the trades at about 20
deg N. For reference, Las Palmas is about 28deg N and St Lucia is 14 deg N.

The racing division (so-defined because they hand steer and hand-grind all
the way) go north, which the skip decided to do. Shortest route there...

So, started in light NE'lies with gentle reach slightly offshore east of
Gran Canaria, and kept apparent wind from going dead aft. Gybed south of
airport, probably a bit too keen and so too early. Set cruising chute and
had a blast across coastal acceleration zone. 'Soon be across it' and...see
skipper blog...

Because gybed a bit early we then sailed into the wind shadow south of Gran
Canaria. Frustrating night before wind filled in again from NE and we were
able to goosewing on port gybe doing 4-5 knots. Winds never much more than
10 knts and we were heading south of the track to St Lucia.

Overnight day 2/3 wind started to veer, so swapped yankee over and reached,
but wind also dropped. So slow start to day 3 (today) but at about 09.00
wind filled in, settled into south, still veering slowly. Took in staysail
and started to harden up. Boat speed up to 5knts +.

Having email problems so not able to get a grib file in past 24 hours, but
ARC's own forecast (as a text email) indicates the depression is NW of us
trailing a cold front SW, with the whole system moving slowly east and so
due to pass over us, hence the veering wind. We'll harden up to close hauled
and then at some point as the front approaches/goes over we'll tack on to
stbd and have cool but fresh N'ly breezes. That will allow us to bear away
and fast reach down the track on about 250 deg T, which is the great circle.
That's the theory!

The front has 20-25 knots gusting 30, according to the forecast, so we're in
for a bouncy 24 hours on the wind until about lunchtime tomorrow when it
should have gone over and the wind gone round to the north.

Until then gentle sailing frustratingly slow. But then we'll see...