Yesterday evening we were frustrated with the little progress we made. We searched for alternative routes to get more wind.

Then we downloaded the wind forecast after removing the “Use motor when STW is less than 1 KN” completely. Result was a completely different weather routing. However it showed us the same time that we only have to sail S to get into areas with better winds.

In the morning, just after sunrise, we set the gennaker with wind of only 3 KN. The gennaker was just filled enough with air that MaRe started moving. We simply wanted to catch each blow of wind to bring us further south.

It paid off, the wind increased and so did the speed. During the whole day boat speed varieties varied between 0.1 – 3.5 KN. Mit much indeed, but we moved South. At the end of the day we made 30+ NM.

Sailing can be very fast or can be very slow. The slow traveling is the point. It allows to “inhale” what’s going on around a slow travelling sailor.

One of the problems we had to fight with today, was the varying current in direction and velocity. We always needed to adjust MaRe’s heading to get the desired COG.

Beside this, it was a relaxed day. I enjoyed several times watching the sea and getting lost in thoughts.

However, I also had write a bunch of mails. This took so much time that I have the time for writing the narration only now after our dinner.

As for dinner, or meals in general, I have to give my compliments to Tjasa and Dennis. They are pretty good!

Tjasa prepared already yesterday “boat made yoghurt”. It tasted good today, so she prepared another yoghurt for the coming days. We just have to eat a lot of marmalade to get empty glasses for yoghurt.

The skipper baked his first round of board baked bread on this long sail. He backed 8 breads and 2 are gone already. It see the crew likes skipper’s bread.

Today, Dennis also challenged fishing. Unfortunately not successful. However, he doesn’t give up and tried it with 3 different lures. Tomorrow is another day!

With SY Katinka we agreed of an exchange of position data, COG and SOG etc every 4 h. This turned out to very good because we know what going on, on the other boat and where it is.

Hope you enjoy reading and questions can be sent to skipper-cat-mare@myiridium.net