Tuesday 22nd January, 2013
A short report today ..... very little to write about !
One bird seen in far distance all day long - possibly an Atlantic petrel ...
Seas have lain right down with WSW wind around F3-4 all day long .. only about 3m or more. now (10-12 ft) - small by Southern Ocean standards!! Earlier had a lot of often quite vigorous rolling around with light wind but occasional bigger wave, but far gentler constant rocking motion now.
Emailing only really possible near sunset and after - but then was good. Was sorry to hear of Jean-Pierre Dick's keel problem (Virbac-Paprec 3) - devastating for him, so close to finishing in VG 2nd place...
Caught up on sleep - was surprised to find I needed so much but maybe accumulation of lots of days of not quite enough told eventually - feeling fine now.
It's dark now - local time is 8.30pm and sunset must be getting on for 8pm - haven't seen a proper sunset for some time now - sky has been mainly solid light grey overcast for quite a few days...
Have been looking a lot at weather info - a big 'blow' is due over Fri-Sat and maybe again shortly after, with a deep Low and strong Cold Front forecast, ....so have been looking to see exactly how that's supposed to develop, with sail-plan/heaving to strategy in mind...
There will be gradual veering of increasing wind from present gentle WSW to very strong NNW ahead of Front, rain expected with the Front, and then backing of wind to W-SW following it, with a big swell (6m/20ft) developing - winds expected to be well over 30kt ahead of Front...
Reading quite a bit now, having hardly touched sails over last two days (still goose-winged, heading East downwind),... Onto "The Fortune of War" ... It's a good test of tiredness - eyelids close easily if sleep is needed, despite the good story!!
Will post this while radio connection for emailing is good....
24hr DMG at 9pm local time (2300GMT ): 136 n.ml.(gentler seas and helpful, fair current!) Cape Horn 1602 n.ml. away (SW). E. Falkland: 1220 n.ml. (SW), S. Georgia: 670 n.ml. (S). Gough Island: 845 n.ml. (NE) - 221 n.ml. SSE of Tristan da Cunha, uninhabited except for group of 7 scientists on 6-monthly posting for research, U.K. but leased to S.Africa. Cape Agulhas (southernmost Cape of Africa): 2316 n.ml.
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For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/