We can almost smell the flowers of Bermuda

Posted On 01 June, 2014

31 05 2014 at 2054

Position – 28°38N 067°38W

COG (course over ground) – 035°

Course (course steered) – 030°

SOG (speed over ground) – 10.1 knots

Boat speed – 9.4 knots

Wind – 233°T at 9 knots

Fuel per hour – 20.1 litres

Fuel per mile – 2.0 litres

Bermuda is really getting closer today. Right now it’s around 300 miles so we should be there in not much more than 30 hours if all continues as it is. However, the weather reports are suggesting a deterioration, so while we’re excited, we aren’t complacent.

The current is doing a great job for us and we have hit 10 knots SOG once or twice which always raises a cheer. The guys agree that the favourable push we’re enjoying is not the Gulf Stream. Rather, it’s a part of the general clockwise North Atlantic circulation driven by the north-east trades.

Peter is looking and feeling a lot better. The three-day course of malaria tablets prescribed by the medics in Portsmouth via Falmouth Coastguard seems to have done the trick. We can only imagine what he must have felt like when it looked as if he’d caught the old enemy, malaria, from the canal mosquitoes.

That was enough excitement for one trip. Everything is now back to normal and we’re starting to spruce up in preparation for landfall. We can dhobi our working kit in the ship’s washer/dryer which does the whole job in one cycle. Just bung in the horrors and fish them out again lovely and clean and dry when it all goes quiet. Magic. No washing flapping in the rigging, no rag-trade benefit and, of course, with a water maker, the big hit on the tanks is no problem at all.

Nathan

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Hi Nathan

By the time you read this you’ll be totally focussed on Bermuda.

I’ve been looking at some surface pressure forecast charts. Today’s front which could be messing things up a bit looks like passing on to the south. It’s clearly shown by rain on the GRIB maps and these go on to suggest that there will be some heavier winds north of Bermuda for a while. The wind veers behind the front which will generate moderate headwinds towards the end. It’ll be interesting to hear how these forecasts pan out. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your smooth ride to continue.

It looks as though you’re going to arrive soon after dark. If so, will you make a night entry or stand off and on until dawn? Please tell us where you plan to lie in Bermuda. St Georges, Hamilton? Your first impressions would also be good to hear. What does the island look like from the sea (if there’s enough light to see it)? Can you smell the land? What colour does it appear? Can you see the reefs breaking and the island behind them as you approach? What about the passage through the reefs? How does it feel to be inside them? What about the houses? Is there anything unusual about them?

What maintenance is planned for GREY WOLF in Bermuda, over and above bunkering? Are there any problems to solve, or is it just routine stuff?

Lots of questions. It’s just that we all wish we were there with you, Peter, the boys and GREY WOLF.

Tom

www.tomcunliffe.com