Big excitement this afternoon. A pod of orcas (killer whales) came by to pay their respects. This is the first time we have ever seen these graceful creatures offshore. We have also had several pods of dolphins come by to say "hello" and check out our bow wave (which is too small to be much fun).

Mid morning puffy cumulous clouds and blue skies have given way to rain squalls. Wind direction remains steadily northwest and the barometer is sitting between 1005 and 1006 Mb. This plus the increase in wind, now blowing a steady 22-25 knots, more in the squalls, are signs of a compression zone forming between a high and low.

Compression zones can generate highly unpleasant sea states. However, in our case the odds are that the squash will ease tomorrow.

Meanwhile, we are getting in some nice surfs, into the high teens on the GPS, and maybe capturing some video – the most interesting part of which may be the WH autopilot calmly sitting there, with barely a wink now and then. Even though the seas are rather steep (we still have that opposing current), Wind Horse is quite happy to pick her way down wind, with only an occasional small correction from the WH autopilot.

This is the North Atlantic, so we are moving about the boat carefully, handhold to handhold. Motion is generally soft, but we do have occasional off axis waves on the beam, which give the boat a pop.

Dinner will be simple affair tonight. Pasta and eggplant casserole from the freezer. Maybe chocolate chip cookies for desert.

Rick Shema’s comments follow (which are, as usual, right on target):

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Steve:

Received your update my morning. Thank you. Yes, you are in the ‘squash zone’ between the ridge to your east and low pressure over Ireland. If you have NW 25kts at 1400Z, expect an increase to about 28-32kts late this afternoon and tapering off by midnight tonight.

Combined seas will be steadily increasing from about 9ft to 12-13ft by late this afternoon (1800Z).

There still does not appear to be much risk in head conditions before your arrival. The ridge still looks like it will track with you to the south and west while the anchor low moves off towards the NE over Norway. There is a weak low that has formed to west of the anchor low and moves SE and to the N of the ridge. This configuration means NW to WNW winds along your track.

As the anchor moves over Norway, the pressure gradient relaxes and conditions abate to about 15-20kts, seas 6-8ft. By 14Aug12Z, expect wind direction to begin a backing trend to be WNW 14Aug18Z.

There is a wide band of low level clouds oriented NW to SE you’re your position to southern Ireland associated with the higher NWerly winds you are in. Expect this to continue until the winds die down tomorrow morning.

It is a good thing your arrival is about 15Aug08Z because by the afternoon, conditions back all the way around to the SE by 15Aug18Z as a developing gale force low moves eastward over southern Ireland by 16Aug06Z. Nice timing!

Next update in about 12hrs.

Rick Shema Weatherguy.com