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Brizo - Bermuda to USA Day 1 (Saturday) – Further than we thought !



Saturday we had hoped to get away at 09:00 or so, there is no official start time as the 9 Yachts or so who participated in the Leg 1 from the BVI go separate ways to various parts of the US coastline. There are a few heading to Newport Road Chesapeake, and as I write this piece of the blog at 02:45 Sunday (local time) we are running parallel to Trillium who are just over the horizon to our port side. The watermaker issue set us off late on Saturday as I replaced the saline sensor to no avail, so we have limited water supplies and unless it rains and we can use the deck collection system, which cannot be used when sea water is coming on deck at the same time from waves – showers will be limited.

We had a good first 8 hours after leaving Bermuda winds were on the beam (at right angles) so fast sailing in 15 knots of wind. We are on 32 degrees North Latitude and Newport News is 37 degrees North but we cannot go direct as between us is the Gulf Stream which pushes North at 1 to 4 knots. The stream is one direction only and also divides with part heading Eastwards back towards Europe. This is a significant factor over a period of several days sailing when often we are only travelling at 5 to 7 knots ourselves. Crossing it too high will mean you will battle the contrary East coming stream and also end up too North on the US Eastern seaboard  and have to curve back South against the stream.

So we are heading West early and for some time and then pick up the North part of the stream to hopefully zoom up North nearer the coast. Luckily also the forecast strong winds by Tuesday will also be heading North otherwise the conflict between opposite winds and currents can make for hazardous sailing conditions, so we will be keeping an eye on this front.

Anyway the sky is clear tonight the others are asleep. I can contemplate the view I have of the galaxy we are part of as I look horizontally through the ‘Milky Way’. The plough is indicating which is the North star confirming our Westerly direction and at 02:30 a perfect large half moon rises from below the horizon directly behind our stern creating the appearance we are travelling along a silver road.

Stu




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