Posted by Steve Dashew (via UUPlus) (July 2, 2009)
Half Way Party!
We are half way to Spitzbergen. The wind has gone light and clocked to the ENE. Swells still on the nose with light wind waves crossing. Motion is barely perceptible. The GFS weather model is performing well and the lighter winds projected to our west have been realized. Wind speeds are a little underforecast, by three to five knots, but this is the norm for GFS. We are back on course for a waypoint 20 miles west of Hornesound.
Water temperature is hovering around 48F (10C) which is amazing considering we are at 73.15 north latitude!
Have backed off the RPMs a hair and are powering at 10.8 knots with half a knot of favorable current.
For a half way party we have had a lovely salad, eggplant parmigiana, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. Have to build our supply of body fat for the frozen north.
