That’s what happened yesterday. There were just too many isobar lines in one place. And that place was right where I happened to be. Instead of the 15 knots forecast, I saw a steady 25 knots with gusts to 30, right on my nose, for about 18 hours. So I didn’t make a lot of progress, but I kept the boat moving. And today dawned much milder, so life is good again.
Vitoria, where I had stopped briefly, claims to be the second largest ore port in the world. I guess they must have piles of it everywhere, and when the wind blows, the whole town gets covered, including boats in the marina.
All day yesterday I kept tracking black footprints everywhere, and there was a fine grey dust on everything. But conditions were a bit too bumpy for a good cleaning. This morning, however, when the sun rose at 5:45am, out came the holystones and a proper seamanlike cleaning was done. Much better!
At the moment I am weaving my way through the Abrolhos (open your eyes!) reefs. Its a maze of reefs and banks that stretches some 30 miles out to sea, and I am picking my way through it along the shore. I should continue to get more favorable wind and seas over the next few days, and I am looking forward to it.
3/25 8am 17.54S 39.14W 1568nm gone, 3843nm to go