[password]seabird14
[position] 39 18.4 N 069 18.5 W
[speed] 7.7 kts
[weather] 8kts SW, seas 0.5m, cc 100% 1015mb 76F 82%rh
[status] Day 4 159nm to Newport RI USA. Motorsailing, full main, 7.7kts at 335T. Soon after our post yesterday at noon, the wind kicked up and the seas got very messy. We were sailing on a close reach into 8-9ft seas that were 5-6 secs apart, and adding to it there was a remnant swell from the NW coming in to hit us and generally add an extra bounce to anyone transiting the cabin. All in all it made for a very uncomfortable ride. 27T of boat going up a wave then slamming down into the trench, to slam hard again into another wave, repeat, repeat, repeat. It is in these times we take great stock in what a well built boat Kailani is, fast yet stout when we need it most. We were all fairly tired and gulping down the the seasick meds, until all of a sudden by 5pm the seas seemed to cease. The wind was still at about 20kts from the SSW, but we had crossed into the gulf stream, way ahead of where we thought we would. The gulf stream current, running with the wind, had the wonderful effect of flattening those waves. Yay! So on we sailed and we all got a reprieve from the slamming motion, the barometer dropped, from its high of 1023mb to 1017mb, in 4 hours confirming we were out of the H that has dominated this trip so far. The gulf stream current set us a bit east, but that was ok since the forecast said we would get winds from the E and NE after the H passed as the new dominant wx would be a low up near 46N. The wind died by 0130 this morning, and we have been motoring since. Morning broke with us under squally skies, and we were greeted with rain, thunder and lightning around us. In the list of things we sailors worry about out at sea, a lightning strike is right up there. As we breakfasted on warm scones, peaches and coffee (upon each lightning burst each of us counting to ourselves "one-one thousand, two-one thousand...") the storm passed us by, but not before the nearest strike was right behind our boat. We didn't need a second cup of coffee this morning to be alert! We are now technically in US waters, being within 200nm of shore, and all aboard are getting excited about landfall tomorrow afternoon. Ironically, the latest forecast has now come back to what it was when we departed Bermuda, that is, no wind for the remaining miles in to RI. Good thing Harl threw the right engine room words at that engine back on Day 1, as she is running fine.
[END]