No Clue Whatsoever

No Clue Whatsoever

The sky is an impossible blue expanse that rivals anything I have seen in the tropics. There is not a cloud in the sky and no clue whatsoever of what is to come in a few hours time.

It is disconcerting. There should be cirrus, and alto cumulus and a host of others descending on us from the north. Instead we have blue nothingness and a building Northwesterly wind. Perhaps it is the blue skies and Northerly breeze that are then clues themselves. Regardless, will worsen considerably before days end.

I came on deck at 0515 to find the wind already blowing 20 gusting 25. I had planned to shorten sail in the afternoon, but with the winds already blowing well in excess of what was forecast, I started early. The main has it’s storm lashings on, the lazyjacks have been pulled forward, the Monitor control line leads were refreshed, the runners are on and set up hard, and the spinnaker plea are double-lashed. It’s cost me miles as we sail at 6 as opposed to 7 but my mind is at ease.

We are sailing due East and will continue reaching across the seas until conditions dictate otherwise. The goal is to clear 43E between 40 and 41S thereby putting the dangerous waters North and West of the Crozets behind us. After 43E, the path is clear South with no other obstacles between us and Cape Leeuwin other than the sea itself.

Follow my tracks in real-time:
https://bit.ly/svseaburban