Azores Passage: Days 4-10

June 1-7, 2014-

bIMG_2251-2Day 5 – the boat did an average of close to 9 knots overnight under sail.  Bob took a picture of the speed instrument showing 9.6 knots.   Thrilling!

Day 6 – A whale swam by the boat less than 10 feet off our beam. We think it was a sperm whale.  It was at least the length of the boat and WAY too close!  We all have a healthy respect for whales and the damage they can do when annoyed.  The seas were still high and rolly in the morning; they started to calm down a bit in the afternoon.  We are still doing 7.6 knots.

bIMG_2268In the afternoon we launched the “message in the bottle” from the 4th grade classes in Andover.  We told the students that it may be two months or even two years before the bottle is found.  Hopefully it is sooner and whoever finds it contacts the school.  The kids are concerned that it will be eaten by a whale or the the person who finds it will not speak English.

 
bIMG_2284Day 7 – The wind dropped to 5 knots with flatter seas, but it slowed the boat to only 2-3 knots.  We flew the spinnaker for most of the afternoon and were kept company by schools of dolphins.  Before dark the spinnaker came down and we started the engine.

After motoring all night we flew the spinnaker most of the following day.

Day 10 – We started the engine again and motored the rest of the way to Flores.  The Azores high provides good weather for the islands, but calms the winds more than we would like.  We had read to plan on motoring the last 100 miles for just that reason.

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