Day 189 - Still on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

We have had an interesting couple of days trying to track the storm (Tropical Storm Andrea) and predict its course. We have sent lots of texts and emails back and forth and even lost a little sleep. At least the first bit is over. The remnants of Andrea remain. All along, Bob has known that the little bit from The Azores to Ireland would be the worst and, we suspect, he is about to be proven correct.

Good Morning,

Well we managed to stay north of the first round of heavier winds but we have had a long morning with lots of rain and little progress.  We seem to get a little breeze, go a few miles and it dies.  The direction has also been quite variable and has nearly done a full circle in the past six hours.  We spent the night hove-to because of so little wind.  We have also had to lower and raise the main sail numerous times to try and keep it from destroying itself in the calm but big swell conditions.  We are trying hard to be patient as we know we will have more wind than we know what to do with very soon.

Hove-to at night with our anchor light on we have been swarmed by Ballyhoo (a type of baitfish).  We have been wondering what the dolphin eat...these might be it.  Just came across our 4th dead sea turtle today.  Better send Al Gore...we think it might be related to global warming.  Anyway I am not eating whatever these turtles are eating.

Also of interest is that we have been traveling over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.  This is an area of personal interest for me.  We are actually sailing over the tops of the biggest mountains in the world.  Maybe there is some volcanic gas that is killing the turtles?

All for now, sometime tomorrow we should be back to the races and hope to put up some more interesting position progressions.

Current position:

            13:55 UTC
                43 33 N
            28 37 W
            Hove-to (parked)
            wind 4-11 kts out of the north

Bob and Bob