April 24th Day 5

Log 4459

Distance to Horta 2071 nm

Distance sailed in 24 hours 59 nm

Distance made good 22 nm

Slow sailing all day yesterday in bright sunshine (Day 4).  Played with fishing rod with hooks removed to see what was around.  Still plenty of Almaco Jacks.  Had curry and rice for supper.  First half of the night slow sailing towards SE.  About 2am it started raining and wind shifted more to SE.  I tacked and made some progress. At dawn the wind became gusty with squalls, 0 to 15 knots and NE to SE.  Mostly light now at 0830, about 5 knots.  I will be busy today changing course and trimming sails.  But first - breakfast time.

 Day 4 Videos

 Day 4 Update

0915

To Horta 2093 nm

Sailed 62 nm

Made good to Horta 29 nm in 24 hours

Sigh.  It's going to be a long trip

 April 23 Day 4

0600

Busy night with and squalls and no wind periods.  Spent 2 hours steering, tacking and doing 360s before wind settled down at dawn. I see there is a tropical wave on its way from the south and potential depression forming close to the north of me.  I have been watching this system so that's why I have been keeping south.  Coffee and YouTube fix before breakfast.  Sunny calm morning so far.

 

Day 3

 April 22nd

Day 3

0915

Distance to Horta (direct): 2122

Distance sailed in 24 hours: 62 nm

Light breeze from ENE and calm sea.  Slipping along at 2.5 knots. Sunny and a few clouds.  Looks like another hot day ahead.

1300  Calm, slow, pleasant sailing.  Saw a dorado (mahi mahi) amongst the jacks following Nuts so got out the little fishing rod.  Difficult not to hook a jack but eventually managed to cast the lure right in front of the dorado and hooked up.  Had to quickly grab the gaff as I was using very light line.  All went well.  Fish now filleted and skinned, cockpit cleaned and me "showered" with shampoo and sea water.  Just a tiny bit of fresh to rinse the salt from my hair and face.  So fish for supper again tonight.

 Update from yesterday, received today.

13.40

Tacked.  Wind very light, maybe 6 knots. 32C inside, hot and sweaty.

Caught an almaco jack, also called long finned yellow tail, this afternoon.  Lots of them swimming around the sargassum.  Filleted and fried in olive oil for supper.  Delicious and no bones.

Slow sailing, even did a 360.