1100 hours Monday September 27, 2010
70 nautical miles east of our turn at Cape Sable
Wind SE’rly 12-16 knots, making 7-9 knots
All sail set plus top-gallant (no studding sail)

Since rounding Cape Canso (east end of Nova Scotia) mid day yesterday Pride has been enjoying steady wind & sea conditions from the southeast letting her maintain pretty steady performance through yesterday afternoon, all last night, and we look forward to these conditions continuing through the rest of today and most of tonight.

Tomorrow will bring change. By then, Pride ought to be well into the Gulf of Maine with sea room to deal with the coming change. The forecasts indicate increasing wind from the south starting tomorrow and continuing on well into Wednesday. South winds will not provide reaching conditions like we have now. Instead the wind will be more ahead of the beam. As the wind increases in strength we will need to reduce sail area and we will likely find that to remain somewhat comfortable…steering off to the north of west hence not directly toward Boston…will be indicated. Long range forecasting indicates the southerly winds are to veer further to the southwest increase some, but be less strong near shore. So I am thinking being flexible to head to the north of Boston as wind increases and veers and maybe reach reduced strength sooner may be a workable strategy for the coming weather.

We expect rain sometime tonight and continue tomorrow. For now the partly sunny day is moderately warm and dry. Rain will indeed dampen this very comfortable sail thus far.

With steady conditions such as we have been experiencing since early afternoon yesterday the on-board daily routine becomes rather repetitive. No sail change during watch and no call to have the stand-by watch come assist means everyone lives from meal to meal and sleep to sleep and watch to watch. Every four hours there is a change of watch. One group goes down to sleep as one goes up to take over and the third merely rolls over. At each watch change there is either a meal or a rummage through the snack locker. For those with more lying down and sleeping then they desire there is reading in the saloon (mid-ship cabin). Meal times are when conversation occurs between watches. Otherwise conversation pretty much only exists between watch members.

Well, I suggest everyone enjoy the current conditions…for they will change. Maybe not right away…but they will change and it looks like things will become a bit busier and less steady while also becoming wet and probably colder.

Cheers,
Jan C. Miles, Captain aboard Pride of Baltimore II