Proper North Atlantic

From on board 40 Degrees, Miranda Merron reports from the Artemis Transat

Sunday 18th May 2008
Time of Position : 0700 UK time
Latitude 44 57.93' N Longitude 32 20.65' W
Ranking : 4th
Average Speed : 6.8 knots
Distance To Leader : 47 miles
Distance To Boat Ahead :
Miles To Marblehead : 1,89.5 miles
Sponsors Of The Day : Notty, Jill Hill, P Colby, MT Waters, Sue Merron, M&L
Controls

We are definitely in the North Atlantic now! After being becalmed yesterday morning for about four hours (very stressful during the blackout period - was it just 40 Degrees, or were other boats in the same situation?), the wind filled in. The fleet has been sailing upwind since then, and judging by the first position report this morning, most of us have been doing more or less the same thing.

It is chilly, damp, raining, foggy and a little rough. And this is only with 20 knots of wind. The boat is slamming into some waves, and occasionally dropping off the back of a wave. Even the simplest tasks are more demanding, as holding on is imperative. Since I live in foul weather gear 24 hours a day, things like pouring boiling water into a packet of freeze-dried food are OK, as already wearing the protective clothing! Typing isn't so easy. Sleeping is remarkably easy, as tired out, so getting launched off the beanbag into the air barely registers in my dreams. I need to change the sound on the ear-splitting wake-up alarm as getting too used to it. There are 5 different options, so will select the most offensive one I can."

Many thanks to the following degrees (all associated with delightful upwind conditions!): 26W Notty; 27W Jill Hill; 28W PG Colby; 29W MT Waters - Along with Alex Sizer, Tony was the other shore team member for the solo 2002 Route du Rhum, so often in my thoughts out here; 30W Sue Merron - my truly wonderful mother and friend; 31W M&L Controls; Miranda/ 40 Degrees