Thursday 13 August

Thursday 13 August
Can't write much, boat bouncy, bouncy. After a wind event psses the ocean is quite rough for a day or two. Yesterday was day one. Hopefully tomorrow the ocean will settle down and give us a smooth ride. Also the wind following the bad weather is going to the east. We need to sail south-east, so we are trying to sail into the wind. That is called beating, and it is a good name. The boat is heeled way over smashing into oncoming waves. Quuite spectacular.
WE have three possible destimations, depending on the wind.
Santa Maria is the most southerly of the Azores islands. It is 200 nm from Horta and on the way. It would be a good quick stop to break up the trip.
Madeira is about 500 nm beyond Santa Maria, also on the way. The Canaries are 200 nm from Madeira.
Because of the easterly wind we are sailing about 150 degrees. In a few days the wind is supposed to go a little north, which means we will be able to sail more easterly. At noon today:
Santa Maria was 100 nm at 110 degrees. We are sailing 150 now, which means that we will not be able to get to Santa Maria..
Madeira was 560nm away at 120 degrees. It is obvious that sailing at 150 degrees will miss Madeira, but the wind shift may bring us on a better course.
Canaries is 700nm away at 140 degrees. The plan is to sail close hauled, beating, to go as much east as we can. We may be able to get to Madeira, if not we will sail all the way to the Canaries.
I have bounced enough. Time eto stop.
Reef Early
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II