Bermuda to Azores – Day 3

Time: 05/23/2008 1200 UTC

Lat: 33 deg 13' N

Lon: 60 deg 22' W

Heading: 99 M

Speed: 7.5 kt

Wind: WSW 10-15 kt

Seas: 6-8 ft

Weather: rain through the night, partly cloudy and 70 by mid-afternoon

Last night we adjusted course to head north. Our original route plan was to head NNE from Bermuda, to pick up the gulf stream and follow it across. This, while a greater distance, has two advantages over a more direct route. First, the winds and current are generally more favorable at the higher latitudes. Second, there is a massive stable high pressure region just west of the Azores (the "Azores High" – I thought it was something else at first, too). This high pressure region has left many boats stuck in no wind for days, within sight of land. We've all decided to make it a goal to sail the entire distance without motoring, so the prospect of enduring the Azores High does not make the direct route compelling. By approaching from a northern latitude, the high may shift south enough for us to have good wind all the way to Horta.

There was a pretty massive low pressure system moving through north of Bermuda, so we opted for an easterly course the first two days. Now that this system has passed, it's time to head north and catch the trade winds and current. Also, there's a pretty heavy front (winds up to 50 knots) moving through from south of Bermuda, heading NE. If we stay north, it looks likely we can avoid it.

During my night watch, I could see thunderstorms in the distance from the front passing to the north. It was a good call to start out east.