Today is probably my last day in ocean proper, for some time to come. At the moment I am still in the so called Porcupine Abyssal Plane, a valley in the ocean floor with a depth of over 4000m; as from this evening I will start to ascent the continental shelf. Today is quite different from the week before; it is drizzling, foggy and damp. The high pressure ridge has moved somewhat to the east and a small trough has moved in, giving me this weather and a moderate southerly breeze. There is no swell to speak of, and, while I am reaching under spinaker, quite comfortable inside. The invaluable Alladin lamp is burning slowly, and the boat is nice and warm. But, for the first time in two weeks, I am wearing jeans and a sweater! English summer, I presume!

This reaching under spinaker, how nice it may be, will not last long, as we are going in the wrong direction. That is, too far to the north. But I have the choice of going at 7 knots too far north, or going at 4 knots in the right direction. So when I reach 49 degrees north, and the wind is still southerly, I will take the spi down and go due east. If I go too far north, I might get on the northern side of the low, and run into easterlies! This little trough is a sort of intermediate system between the high on the southeast, and a new, Atlantic low. The new low, with accompanying westerlies, will only come in on monday, so for today and tomorrow I will have to do with this. ETA Plymouth still Tuesday night or Wednesday morning...

Bart

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