Delivery trip blog

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:05:55 +0000

I have now spent a week at sea dodging the worst of the North Atlantic depressions and with some careful negotiating we have seen the wind at worst at about 35 knots, and most of it has been in the right direction. This has meant that we have sailed 1000's of extra miles on our quest to get to the Med. By the sounds of the reports of damage and devastation ashore our decision to avoid the worst of the storms has not only been prudent but also a saving grace. It is only today as we drift across a ridge we have felt any kind of warmth in the sun and have even taken to removing a jacket. Otherwise we have the same layers on that we left in and when you can begin to smell yourself you know things may be bad and, as I have a colleague with me, I could only apologise and maybe admit that perhaps I do not always smell of roses as I had told so many people before. Despite our care in the Atlantic it seems we are destined to arrive at the Straits of Gibralter with 40 knot head winds, which doesn't sound like our best idea of the journey. So we may be killing time out here to avoid the worst of the weather. As we discussed today, to take such care all journey to then brake something so near the end by tackling the narrow gap at Gibralter with strong head winds would be careless. Mind you, it is easy said, to take more time, when the sun is shining and we are warm and dry for one of the first times this trip!