Shades of the Southern Ocean. Running before 35 knots of wind with just a quarter of the number 2 genoa. Big seas. Albert doing a superb job of holding course of 20 to 10 degrees off dead down wind, making 6.5 - 7 knots. Noon position 40 15N 26 05 W. Noon-to-noon run was 161 miles.
It was all going well until around 20:00 when the north wind at the back of the low started to increase. I dropped to three reefs in the main and four rolls in the genoa. Then the barometer began a more rapid ascent. By 22:00 it was getting out of hand so I took the main down, lashed it up onto the boom gallows. took the genoa down to about a quarter size, shut everything up went to bed. Not a lot of sleep. But not to worry. Great boat just kept tracking. A high is coming in behind the low so the wind will continue to veer, but not lighten. Only 101 miles to Terceira and it looks like I'll get here early in the morning. The entrance through the outer breakwater is 1/3 mile wide and well lit, so I'll go in, round up into the north quarter, anchor, and wait til dawn. Though I suspect that it may be too windy to go to the inner harbour.
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