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Brizo - Bermuda to USA Day 1 (Saturday) – Further than we thought !
Brizo - Bermuda to USA Day 1 (Saturday) – Further than we thought !
Saturday we had hoped to get away at 09:00 or so, there
is no official start time as the 9 Yachts or so who participated in the Leg 1
from the BVI go separate ways to various parts of the US coastline. There are a
few heading to Newport Road Chesapeake, and as I write this piece of the blog at
02:45 Sunday (local time) we are running parallel to Trillium who are just over
the horizon to our port side. The watermaker issue set us off late on Saturday
as I replaced the saline sensor to no avail, so we have limited water supplies
and unless it rains and we can use the deck collection system, which cannot be
used when sea water is coming on deck at the same time from waves – showers will
be limited.
We had
a good first 8 hours after leaving Bermuda winds were on the beam (at right
angles) so fast sailing in 15 knots of wind. We are on 32 degrees North Latitude
and Newport News is 37 degrees North but we cannot go direct as between us is
the Gulf Stream which pushes North at 1 to 4 knots. The stream is one direction
only and also divides with part heading Eastwards back towards Europe. This is a
significant factor over a period of several days sailing when often we are only
travelling at 5 to 7 knots ourselves. Crossing it too high will mean you will
battle the contrary East coming stream and also end up too North on the US
Eastern seaboard and have to curve
back South against the stream.
So we
are heading West early and for some time and then pick up the North part of the
stream to hopefully zoom up North nearer the coast. Luckily also the forecast
strong winds by Tuesday will also be heading North otherwise the conflict
between opposite winds and currents can make for hazardous sailing conditions,
so we will be keeping an eye on this front.
Anyway
the sky is clear tonight the others are asleep. I can contemplate the view I
have of the galaxy we are part of as I look horizontally through the ‘Milky
Way’. The plough is indicating which is the North star confirming our Westerly
direction and at 02:30 a perfect large half moon rises from below the horizon
directly behind our stern creating the appearance we are travelling along a
silver road.
Stu
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