Azores to Portugal (Day 7)

Position 091200Z JUL 12
N 40 00.0
W 013 15.3
823 NM traveled
5.0 Knts. average speed
113 NM last 24 hours
196 NM to Cascais, Portugal (Lisbon) 116 NM on track {adjusted for destination refinement)

1. Despite the very light airs and not a few times banging around with no wind during the night we made good progress in the last 24 hours. It seems silly to admit that I didn't do a very good job of checking the weather before leaving Horta. I never expected 7 days in a row of North winds. Live and learn. I have been tracking a couple of other boats headed to Ireland or the UK and they are not having very pleasant sailing so maybe it is all for the best. According to Jimmy Cornell's "World Cruising Routes" the passage to Ireland should be done in May - June. The pilot charts show the prevailing winds shifting more to North in the July - August timeframe.

2. Today has been that perfect sailing day. Strong enough winds to move Reboot alone nicely, sunny and warm (at least 70F which is as high as it has been for weeks.) The down side is being alone. Solo sailing is lonely and boring on short passages, these last few weeks have been very wearing. I think XO feels it too. He spends all of his waking hours in my lap and my resting hours in my arms.

3. The weather forecast for my Wednesday arrival is pretty strong winds from the North. Fortunately Cascais is protected from North winds so I should be able to get in. Strong North winds mean beam seas so I will be rocking and rolling the last bit. I am not looking forward to it. Hopefully I will be early and the winds will be late.