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Gozwoz - Day 14 from Bermuda



During the night we had only three hours of sailing. In the morning Our Great Leader addressed the question whether to continue to Horta or to stop for fuel at Flores, bearing in mind we were in an area known to be windless and that we did not have enough fuel to motor the whole way. All depended upon whether wind was forecast and, if so, whether the forecast could be relied on. OGL downloaded the GRIB file and the ARC Europe weather forecast both of which showed good winds between Flores and Horta from tomorrow morning and took the crew into his confidence. Crew and leader, all gullible to the last, decided unanimously, and despite their experience of such forecasts, that a favourable wind was certain tomorrow. Our course was altered to Horta and we proceed with a firm expectation of an arrival on Thursday morning.

Pending the arrival of the wind we continue to motor in a very light wind disturbed only by a large swell which according to the ARC Europe forecast has come from Scotland. Motoring across a flat sea has become familiar and promotes activities such as reading (even for the hyperactive Bosun), cookery, blanket pressing and the art of navigation. OGL also spends an hour a day on the SSB net, on which he is one of the net controllers, keeping up with other SSB equipped boats. In this he is ably assisted by the Coxswain who produces a daily map of the boats.

Flotsam and Jetsam: We regularly pass floating objects in great variety. Fishing floats, probably with rope attached, and Dan buoys are the most common. The largest items seen today have been a 45 gallon drum and a log resembling a telegraph pole. No containers so far.

Nature notes: Birds have reappeared in the last few days and as approach land, particularly sheerwaters and petrels.

The crew wish it to make it known that they have a special, and affectionate, name for OGL, namely "Captain xxxxxxxx". We invite you to guess the full name. A clue, it is related to his sleeping habits. We hope to announce the answer in a later blg but ask you to note that all blogs are edited by OGL.

The minnow has been active on the starboard wing today and has already been successful. The catch, however, was adjudged too small to feed the crew and it was returned.


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