Nearly the only topic of discussion aboard Madrone for the past 48 hours has been the strange low pressure system that is doubling back to sit directly in the course we’d set to the Azores. And after all of that talking, pontificating, and poring over our various weather forecasts, the answer of what we should actually do is still not obvious, at least not to us.
But the least bad option appears to be to head south, try to pick our way along the bottom of the low pressure area, and then cut back north as we angle towards our destination. The downsides are a couple hundred extra miles to sail, and also the not-great feeling of giving up nearly all of the northing we’ve worked hard to make after leaving Bermuda.
The risk, as always, is that the forecast that we have can change, meaning that we might be making a big loop south and then end up with adverse weather down there. But that risk feels acceptable to us in light of the alternative, which is bashing upwind in 30-40 knots for several days.
So, we’re going to head southeast for about 350 miles in an attempt to get under the low. The benefit is that the wind direction and strength right now is perfect for this new routing decision, and we’ve enjoyed 15 knots on wind on the beam all day and all night, with the same forecast for tomorrow.
Fingers crossed and knocking on wood aboard Madrone.
Day Six
169nm
35 12.8N 48 22.2W
