password] rachel25
[position] 43 30.450n 015 50.630w
[status] On passage, Cabo Verde towards France.

We continued to keep ahead of the cold front until dawn this morning. Then it arrived with torrential rain and 25 knot winds
which lasted 6 hours. However, once we had our act together and a reef in the main, it helped us on our way in grand style. Now the rain clouds have moved further east and some blue sky returned so maybe well get a good sunset. This was the first real downpour we have had since the tropics and it has washed all the Sahara dust out of the ropes and sails and diluted the salt in all the deck fittings.
We did catch the UK shipping forecast last night which followed "sailing by", a very British Institution. The forecast for Fitzroy bore no resemblance to what we experienced but I guess we were right on the edge of the area.

[speed] 5.0 knots
[heading] 060 degrees true
[weather] Wind 330 11kts. 0.5m waves. Sky 70% cloud. Baro 1013
[END]