Newfoundland, Found
July 6, 2019
Day 241
Noon Position: 46 39N 53 01W
Course(t)/Speed(kts): NE 6
Wind(t/tws): E 4
Sea(t/ft): —
Sky/10ths Cover: Fog/10 (viz = 200ft)
Bar(mb): 1013+, falling
Cabin Temp(f): 68 (engine heater on)
Water Temp(f): 46
Relative Humidity(%): 52
Magnetic Variation: -17.6
Sail: Motoring
Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 112
Miles since departure: 31,717
Leg to St. John’s
Days: 4
Miles: 465
As we closed Cape Race, a heavy fog came down that ate up the wind. I reeled in a drippy spinnaker and started the engine at 0430. Already daylight was coming on. Over coffee, I set myself for a long shift in the pilot house.
We were entering an area where icebergs could be found. And though the latest ice report was a far cry from the one we saw before our Halifax arrival–now there were fewer bergs per square degree than fingers on one hand–I still wanted to be cautious.
By full light, visibility was below 200 feet, and it stayed that way all day.
While I would have liked more wind, this part of the run provided a good test of systems rarely used on the first 237 days of
Would we see our first ice today? Lack of visibility seemed to answer this in the negative. But would radar pick it up?
Newfoundland. A curious name. Not New Holland or New France or Nova Scotia or even Nova Albion. Not any of the names that in their statement lay claim to this or that piece of the new world. Newfoundland, rather, seems uttered in shock (What, here?) and suggests
Lucky you (although we all know it is mostly skill that got you where you are)
I see by AIS that you have reached Long Pond. I’m sure you will love it. We spent many a happy afternoon there dipping bergy bits out of the water to use with our rum. Please give my best to Ted and Karen – I’m sure they, and the other members of RNYC, will take very good care of you.
Gorgeous pictures!
Randall, I have friends out there somewhere near you bound for Newfoundland. Maybe it would be fun to put out a VHF call to the sailing yacht OCEAN COWBUOY, and if you get in touch with Steve and Donna, say hello from Pam!!! They are heading back to St. Johns where they live after spending the winter at my dock in Fort Lauderdale. The boat is a Tayana 54 dark blue hull!!! Keep away from those burggie bits!!! Pam
The most restful sleep I get is singlehanded on the hook and I bet it’s the same for you. Enjoy, and thanks for including the interesting iceberg analysis as well as your photos.
Randall: how much anchor chain/rope do you carry on Moli? Anchoring in 60 ft!