Atlantic Crossing Day 10 - Pizza Day!

Today was the first day since California that we turned on the oven. All through the tropics we marveled at people who baked cookies, breads, and all manner of baked goods and meats. In the tropics we avoided using the stove top, let alone turn on the central furnace that our oven can be. Mostly we grilled and ate cold dishes. Today, however, the oven went on and we had pizza. It was a white pizza with a Boboli crust. Boboli crusts are great for cruising. Vacuum-sealed, pre-baked pizza crust that lasts for ever.

White Pizza a la Solstice:
1 - Boboli Crust
1/4 cup - Olive Oil
3 cloves - Garlic crushed
1/4 cup - white onion diced
2 cups - Mozzarella grated
1/4 cup - Feta cheese crumbled
1/8 cup - Kalamata Olives sliced lengthwise in half
2 links - Hot Italian Sausage casing removed diced and sautéed

Assemble pie and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until cheese bubbles and browns slightly. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh sliced plum tomatoes.

Today and last night have been slow going. We've been making our way through a ridge of high pressure with very light winds. We ran the engine for 10 hours to the NE to find some wind. Currently we have 9 knots from the NW. The forecast is for increasing winds and we'll be heading east staying south of 36 degrees 30 minutes.

All is well aboard Solstice.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail (photos and video added later)
for information see:

http://www.sailmail.com

Atlantic Crossing Day 9 - Chasing the Gulf Stream

North of Florida the Gulf Steam begins to meander. it move easterly and westerly and will even split into two separate streams. There is also back eddies and cold water counter currents to deal with. With satellite imaging available from NOAA and the US Navy using the Gulf Stream has become very predictable. It's good to know when to use it for your advantage and when to stay out when a wind blows opposite the current. Wind opposing current creates large and steep wave quickly.

We have spent the last 20 hours heading as due north as possible to find an east-setting portion of the Gulf Stream. We found it and it's adding 1.5 kts. to our speed. Every little bit helps as we are 1,917 miles from Horta, Azores. Best prediction now is for 14 days to arrive.

All is well aboard Solstice.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail (photo added later)
for information see:

http://www.sailmail.com

Atlantic Crossing Day 8 - Ferris Water Power 200

With the cooler air temperatures and stronger winds our tow behind electrical generator is keeping up with our needs and providing a surplus of electricity. With warmer temperatures the refrigerator consumes the lion's share of energy. Radios, electronic navigation equipment, and navigation lights at night are the other priority electrical needs. Some days we would run the diesel generator for two one-hour sessions.

The Ferris Water Power 200 is an electric generator that is mounted on the stern rail. Attached to the generator is 100' of line with a shaft and a propeller on the end. As we move through the water the propeller spins, thus turning the generator and creating electricity. At 5 knots we can create 8 amps. With the surplus we have now we've turned on the music and are using the electric autopilot for this bouncy downwind sailing. Both the music and GPS-guided autopilot are luxuries. Today will be the first day that we will not have to run our diesel-powered generator. We hope to have many more days of no diesel consumption.

All is well aboard Solstice.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see:

http://www.sailmail.com

Atlantic Crossing Day 7 - The Amazing Herb Hilgenberg

At 1930 UTC on frequency 12.359 MHz sailboats from all over the north Atlantic begin checking in by calling "Southbound II, Southbound II this is (vessel name) standing by." At 2000 UTC Herb begins calling on each vessel and confirms their position and provides them with a personal weather forecast. The forecast includes analysis for wind, current, and the proper routing to avoid bad weather and how to improve your speed. What's amazing about this you may ask. He does this for free: it's his hobby. We talked with Herb today and found out that there will be gale force winds 100 NM north of us. We have good winds for sailing due east. That was his recommendation and that's what we'll do.

Today's winds have been much improved from yesterday. We've had 12 to 15 knots from the SSW all day. We have been averaging 5.5 knots to ENE. A very nice sailing day. Sunny, warm, good wind, and a helpful current. On the downside our boom vang became detached from the boom last night. Nothing urgent need be done, but the maintenance list has started. Remember cruising is just fixing your boat in exotic ports.

All is well aboard s/v Solstice.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see:

http://www.sailmail.com

Atlantic Crossing Day 6 - A New Record

From today forward Shirlee and I will be setting a record for the number of days at sea. Prior to today the record was five days when we sailed nonstop from Seattle to San Francisco. All of our sailing since heading south from San Francisco has been at most three days. Given the lack of wind the record we are creating on this passage may stand for a long time.

Last night and all of today there has been no more than 5 knots of wind. Currently there is 2.5 knots and our speed is 0.5 knots. The forecast is for SE winds to develop early tomorrow morning and we'll have 15 to 20 knots for 36 hours. Then the wind will die again. This is going to be very slow this coming week. Other than the slow progress all is well aboard Solstice.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see:

http://www.sailmail.com

Atlantic Crossing Day 5 - Cold Fronts

Last night we sailed to NE as a cold front approached from the north. For most of the night the wind held steady from the SW at 15 knots. To the north we could see a massive lightening storm. To the south was clear. We kept checking the radar to see if any rain was approaching, but it remained clear. Our radar range is 24 miles.

This morning the front passed over us and the wind picked up to 20 knots with gusts to 25. We set double reefs and sailed on. About 90 minutes after we set the reefs the wind died to light and variable. However, the seas remained very lumpy. Today has been slow and bumpy with an occasional shower and after the shower some wind that dies to nothing. The wind should be building tonight out of the SW.

All is well aboard Solstice.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see:

http://www.sailmail.com

Atlantic Crossing Day 4 - Sargosa Sea

Sargosa is Spanish for seaweed and it is everywhere in this correctly named sea. The water is very clear and a deep blue dotted with mats of yellow seaweed. At night the seaweed glows when disturbed. This seaweed is fouling the Ferris Water Power 200 electric generator every 20 minutes or less. When the seaweed wraps around the propeller of the Water Power 200 output fall from 8 amps to .5 amps. We have stopped towing it and are relying on the diesel generator for our electricity. The seaweed is also fouling the servo rudder on the wind vane steering. We'll be glad to be out of this garden in the ocean. Other than clearing the weeds all is well.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail (photo added later)
for information see:

http://www.sailmail.com