Day 23 Part Two - Weather and Progress Report

Posted on thetravelsofjongordon.blogspot.com 

It's now 6:48 ship's time. We've been adjusting our clocks as we progress across the Atlantic having gained an hour so far from the time in Iceland. 

We are now about 75 nautical miles off the coast of Greenland, just outside the Polar Zone, which we are not allowed to enter as the ship does not meet the new requirements created about 5 years ago for safety (think icebergs) and are approaching Cape Farewell, the southern most tip of that still frozen land. 

The wind is backing around (counterclockwise) to the southeast from the southwest and is forecasted to become northeast around midnight, when my watch will end. This is good news for making headway and, if strong enough, for turning off our two Cummings diesel engines and setting sail again. We will also be picking up the south bound Greenland Current. 

However, in terms of staying warm, this likely means cold Artic winds and a cold water current. The Captain points out that we will be turning south and be moving into more southerly latitudes as we make for New Foundland. The coldest air temperatures we've experienced so far was 5 degrees C when crossing the Artic Circle off the northeast tip of Iceland. We've crossed the Artic Circle twice, not counting hiking to the top of Grimsey Island, when passing the northeast and northwest tips of Iceland. 

We have not seen another ship in these seldom traveled waters in days. 

To date, I've worn 5 layers of warm clothing under my foul weather gear and have only one more layer to add. With all of that on I feel like the Michelin Man, but its the only thing to do to fight the wind chill. I'm very glad I brought additional long underwear and warm mittens in Iceland. We were never told that our route would take us so far north. 

You may recall that on our passage off northeast Iceland not only was it cold, but we had steady winds of 25 to 30 knots with the occasional gusts of 40 knots (gale force) giving us a boat speed of up to 9 knots versus the 5 to 6 knots that we've been doing motor sailing has. 

The forecast is for more mild wind speeds for the next day or so, but could change at any time. We may even see icebergs or flow ice. 

To keep warm we do have a wind break around the bridge and take turns going into the adjacent enclosed chart house along with warm drinks. When off watch the upper mess and below deck are reasonably warm and  Nellie does have hot and cold running water (most of the time for the hot).