Tuesday 5th March 2013
9am We've had a good wind overnight and up to now-but it's finally dying away ... yet again! Suppose I shouldn't complain since didn't expect wind to be useful anyway... ! It followed the Cold Front of last night, on a Low of 1006 - but pressure now is up to 1012, fairly sunny sky with white cloud, ... backing wind - sending us close-hauled onto ENE... So much for getting further S to avoid being becalmed by this expanding High coming along.....
10am SOG: 3.0kt, COG: 070T...!! A pair of prions and of white-chinned petrels together with a white-faced, brown, juvenile Wandering albatross, are circling the boat under a cloudy sky.
3pm SOG: 2.8 kt, COG 100T ...course getting better as wind backs slowly ... but we're not getting S very fast!
Another highly frustrating day - no wind again, after overnight wind died mid-morning... so drifting again... and very rolly in swell. And another day of difficult radio contact for emails. All feels rather negative at present - several more days like this in prospect...
Beautiful starry sky after lovely sunset with magnificent Royal albatross soaring around with the usual group of petrels... but didn't see comet Panstarrs because of cloud low on horizon - will keep an eye out at sunset over this week.
Midnight: Finally making 4kt SSE ... wind up slightly and veered more - into WSW - W. Fingers crossed wind holds for a time.
24hr DMG at 1100GMT : 58 n.ml. Cape Agulhas: 2188 n.ml.; Ile Kerguelen: 431 n.ml. (165T) Ile Amsterdam: 573 n.ml. (069T) WP Sth of Cape Leeuwin (Australia): 2137 n.ml. (by Gt Circle)
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For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/