PK blogging late at night....
It seems we continue to be very lucky with the weather, the locals tell us that they usually see very little sun at this time of the year, it's mostly foggy damp and cold.
Today dawned a little chilly but with clear bright blue skies. First order of business was filling up water tanks so we upped anchor and made for the club fuel dock. There the crew showered and shaved with hot running water in a proper shower facility. Something that's becoming more of a rarity the further north we travel. Soon after 0900 we slipped the mooring lines and backtracked down our incoming track of a few days ago to Halifax Harbour proper and then out through the approach leads and Drina was at sea once more.
The day passed quickly enough, Rossco now feels confident to stand a watch alone so we have split into 4 watches of three hours each, 3 hours on and 9 off, "sheer bloody luxury..."
Late in the morning the wind increased and we rolled out the headsail and motor-sailed for a while. by 1400 hrs the wind had increased and we sailed with full main and Genoa for the rest of the day. As darkness set in the wind eased and we rolled up the Genoa and stowed the main and continued under motor. Soon afterwards the fog rolled in and soon visibility was down to 4 or 5 hundred meters. We then relied on the Radar and the AIS systems to keep watch. It proved a busy night with many fishing vessels and cargo boats to keep track of. we often had as many as 7 or eight targets to plot at any one time. The wind died completely by midnight and the sea was glassy with a small Atlantic swell rolling under our Starboard quarter.
The fog lifted at about 1000 on the 26/06/14 and the wind began to build again soon we were motor-sailing, making about 7 kts straight to the bottom of Newfoundland.
A forecast of adverse headwinds from the Canadian Coast Guard at 1230 caused us to change course radically and we are now running for cover as a result of a strong wind warning for Northerly head winds. (Gentlemen don't sail to windward) . In a few hours we expect to make landfall at St Peters Hbr. approximately 30 miles away to the north and hide for a day or so while the front blows through.
As luck would have it, Drina has cruised these waters previously (2013) and so Michael has had the benefit of first hand knowledge of the layout and attractions. These include being able to tie up to the Canal wharf, a short walk from the town of St Peters and within striking distance of the pub!
PK on Drina at sea 1405hr 26/06/2014
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