Hello everyone
I write this note in front of the English coasts, but still at a good distance, 35 M in the south of Plymouth.
Last night was really beautiful, with a clear view of the sky and a resplendent Milky Way, on these new moon nights.
For quite a while I was surrounded by dolphins at night. I heard them from the inside and saw them outside. At about the same time I met the friendly Ofni 450 Astragale 2, we exchanged a few words at the VHF – they are on the return of a long journey up to the Lofoten in Norway, on their comfortable sailboat but a little slow – they were on the engine to advance to 5 knots, when I was at more than 8 nds under sail – not the same program!! They plan to be Monday evening in Les Sables d’Olonne, to shelter from the swell of the tropical storm Erin which is coming soon.
I have an incredible chance with the weather that is always beautiful!
And the boat is sailing well on the sea, tight upwind with 12 to 15 knots of real wind, which is for the moment a little too much in the east for me to advance directly on the course. With in addition 1.5 nds of current bearing for the moment at SW, I am progressing less quickly, but not too bad still!
I made a small tack towards the SE – not sure that it was my best idea, but hey it allowed me to navigate 2 hours on the other tack, after several days heeled on the same side!
I also spent a lot of time this morning thinking and watching the navigation for the next 48 hours, and in particular for the delicate passage of the Pas de Calais – but especially for the last part just after: the sandbanks of the North Sea.
Finally I think that I will cross the cargo highway before the Pas de Calais Strait, then follow the French coast between the coast and the traffic separation scheme, to finally follow up the Dunkirk channel along the coast. It will be easier than staying on the English side, because in this case it becomes really very difficult to come back to Nieuwpoort, due to the presence of many sandbanks.
Here you are, a more technical and navigation-oriented note, but for this “Dernière Manche” I have to stay focused!
#TousCapables