Tuesday 2nd July 2013
Sunrise before 6 am – clear blue sky above, boat making only 2 kt from midnight on, sea fairly calm. Spaysail was unfurled for a time but as wind veered from S to SW it was furled away again and, by late morning, genoa was taken over to starboard, goose-winged.
Seal was playing around the stern thought it might be a dolphin until I saw it’s bewhiskered face looking at me as it poked it’s head up out of the water. Storm-petrel seen – rapid wing beats, and slender wings – seen one several times over last week or so.
Some increased wind gave 4 kt near midday – a few white crests seen on sea surface – but hoped-for stronger wind didn’t materialize and wind soon disappointingly died back again to 5 kt or so. Bright sunshine all day with just a few clouds and only slight swell. Fred coped well, keeping us on course for the Strait despite our slow speed downwind.
There’s strong wind on the coast and inshore and the Strait is forecast to have 25 – 35 kt over Wednesday and Thursday but light winds are expected to continue out here – we need to be 200 n.mi. closer in to be able to make a decent speed. Radio contacts continue to help keep my spirits up – the sunny summer weather is lovely but can’t compensate for our unbelievably slow progress.
24hr DMG to 2300GMT: 52n.mi. Strait of Juan de Fuca: 320n.mi. (102T); Victoria: 379n.mi.
From: KC2IOV/MM by HF radio. Transcribed by Rick, VE7TK, Victoria, BC via Ham Radio for posting
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http://www.7163net.com Current Position Reported by Ham Radio with Google Earth Tracking