Into a Kingdom of Cloud
March 16, 2019
Day 163
Noon Position: 54 50S 83 53W
Course(t)/Speed(kts): ExS 7
Wind(t/tws): NNW 17 – 20
Sea(t/ft): NW5
Sky: Alt Stratus and Alt Cumulus
10ths Cloud Cover: 10
Bar(mb): 996,falling all day
Cabin Temp(f): 50
Water Temp(f): 43
Relative Humidity(%): 81
Sail: Working jib, one reef; main, two reefs; port reach
Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 153
Miles since departure: 22,411
Avg. Miles/Day: 138
Days since Cape Horn: 106
Miles since Cape Horn: 14,770
Avg. Miles/Day: 139
Longitude Degrees Made Good (degrees minutes): 4 03
Total Longitude Made Good Since Cape Horn (degrees minutes): 345 42
Avg. Long./Day: 3.25
Miles to Cape Horn: 482
I’m on edge. The day is eerie. Things are about to happen…
We have a good wind from NNW between 17 and 27 knots, which Mo takes just aft of the beam and on which we make a steady seven knots. It has held all day, this wind. But it is not meant to be, and everything points to change.
The barometer is falling steadily: 1000mb at 6AM; 996mb by noon; 993 by 6PM. The sky has been low and lead-like all day; clouds are not ragged yet, but smooth and flowing in long, dark streams. Occasionally, a pocket opens to reveal a complex network of towering cumuls and cirrus covering the heavens, but mainly we are under this low, variegated deck. There is a small sea running from the NW that becomes increasingly steeper. And above all, there is an odd, cathedralesque quiet that carries with it a sense of pent-up power and imminence. The feeling is of sailing into a world beyond the pale; possibly the gods live here.
The forecast–that fills in the gaps: a large and powerful low is approaching from the west. Its center is in the process of dropping in on top of us, thus the falling bar and the cloud. Soon wind will back dramatically and come to rest in the SSW. By morning we will be close hauled and fighting strong southerlies.
In fact, all of this was to begin hours ago. I’ve prepped the boat for heavy weather and shifted lines in preparation for a tack around.
But with a reverential hush and an eye to windward, we coast onward on a north wind and slide deeper and deeper into this strange kingdom of cloud.
My heart is in my stomach reading this. What you are doing is so amazing. Rage on Captain!
Marianne! Me too! We are all awaiting your next post while sucking in our breaths hoping for the best for you and MO and Monty. The eerie feeling that there will be more to come! We are all reefed and ready to cheer you on!!!
Sail on sailor!
At least it’s not calm. And who knows, maybe it will pass by. So I am not going to wish good luck, you don’t need it just a wish for you to stay safe. Next thing you know it will be a steady beat to the north and you’ll be in the doldrums. Stay safe, be strong stay healthy.
I can’t wait to buy the book that will spring from this adventure. Your writing brings the reader in. I wonder if I’m the only one who’s addicted to the live tracker. I have my personal laptop set up on my desk at work so I can watch the little white dots propagate. I’m going to a presentation tonight put on by our sailing association. It’s a couple from the group who’ve completed the great loop. I’m going to bring up your journey and share your website, so by tomorrow I’d imagine you’ll have several new followers. Thank you again for bringing us along.
I see an adventure novel in your future…