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Merlyn III - Day 4: 'A painted ship upon a painted ocean'



We have had to switch the motor on, the last thing any of us wanted to do. We made only 90 miles in the last twenty-four hours in winds always below 10 knots.  That makes 350 miles in 3 days.  The winds are forecast to sat sub-10 kn forecast for the next three days  at least, and to swing round soon to head us - under the malign influence of two lows, one of which separated from a monster storm in the mid Atlantic. Both are almost stationary and have pushed the trade winds, such as they are, down to about 15degN rather than 20degN where we might have expected them.  We were at 24degN when we decided – over 500m north. 
At the moment the trades are not forecast to re-assert themselves properly in our part of town, the eastern half of the Atlantic, for the next five days – though that could change.  We almost wish we had ignored strong advice and tried the northern route, going round the top of these two lows, helped along by mean winds of 35 knots!  Right now we are sunning ourselves to the throb of the motor and are due 100m off Cape Verde Islands Friday p.m. before which we will reassess the next step.
Several other boats have visibly made the same decision and we have spotted only a couple still trying to slug it out.  Maybe their WAGS are due out later, or their water supplies are healthier, than ours!  As it is, any Merlyn WAGS reading this blog better pack an extra book or two and be ready for some Paxman lookalikes. 
You will be glad, but perhaps not surprised, to hear that the skipper has ordered normal culinary standards maintained during this phase - in this calamity and to be reassured that the wine supply has been more generously judged than the water – maybe we will be washing in the stuff soon.
 
David


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