The variable moods of a temperamental Drake
One has passed, the next one is coming. The Drake Passage, a hallway for Low Pressure Systems that travel in an Easterly direction, leaving areas of variable and changing winds in between them. Then often, hitting hard with their winds and growing swells.
Yesterday we had a windless morning, with a breeze picking up throughout the day, blowing then onto our nose. Today was a journey of variable winds and good sailing.
Changes also in the weather. We wake up to a wet and cloudy day, though the temperature has risen, and it feels quite warm on deck when hands are called just before the 8 AM change of watch to clew up the courses, Top Gallants, and Royals. Part of the stack of sails that had been set not long ago in the early hours. Wind comes, wind goes. All squares, Lower and Middle Staysails, and headrig were set earlier with the hope for a good sailing and turning the engines off. Not much later, the canvas flaps and hangs, not helping our progress.
A situation that doesn’t last long, the wind and weather conditions keep changing during the whole day.
After the breeze becomes light, it quickly turns into a good South-southwesterly of 30kn with gusts up to 35kn. With it, the seas grow as well.
Hands are called once more on deck by morning coffee time. It is time brace to Port tack, pass the staysails to this tack, pull down the middle ones, furl Fore Top Gallant and both the Top Gallant and Royal on the Mainmast, at the time that we douse the Spanker. Now Europa happily sails at 7 to over the 8kn on a NNW course. Finally back to good sailing!
In the evening again the wind decreases to 25kn first and gradually less and less, veering to a West-southwesterly. All asking for more canvas. By night, all squares are set, all headrig and spanker.
But more and more wind shifts are forecasted both in force and direction, so this will keep the watches busy on deck.
The Antarctic Convergence is left behind, and with it, the water temperature is also warmer. We sail into the Sub-antarctic world, and the rain gives a chance to the sun to shine again amongst the openings in the high clouds. For most of the day, the wind blows hard. Oceanic area and conditions for good seabird watching.
No matter the rain or the sun, petrels and albatrosses fly around us today. And then, here they come, the big guys, with the largest wingspan of any flying bird. Impressive Wandering albatrosses show up, masterfully soaring on the 30kn of wind, often even gliding over the poop deck and flying on port and starboard right next to the ship. Afterwards, seemingly effortlessly disappearing in the distance over the waves and swells of a moody Drake Passage.
