Zigzag course

25 April 2019

People at home may wonder what we are doing on the ocean, when looking at the OOSTERSCHELDE zigzag positions on the map (to be found at Follow the Ship).

The story is this: After leaving São Miguel we set a NE-course. We could sail for a few hours and then the wind died. We went on engine for one and a half day crossing the center of an high until we found wind again. This stretch was the first zig course. The wind came however from the NE. Therefore we sailed in the SE direction with the forecast that the wind would back to NW. This was the first zag course.

And that forecast came true. Finally, we found our westerly winds. And how! We headed NE again. This was our second zig course. The NW wind increased to gale 7-8 Bft with more in gusts. So, we got that 40 knots from the forecast of the previous trip report. Waves built up to 8 meters. Then at early morning with a sudden ‘zaff’ the main sail teared into pieces. We got the main sail down and tied up. But in this wind and waves we could not do much more than go with the wind. With only the stay sail on, we got speeds up to 9 knots. Going with the wind lowers the pressure on the riggings. We kept this wind and course for 24 hours, heading SE again. This was our second zag course.

In the morning, the wind lessened, which gave us opportunity to replace the mainsail with a spare mainsail. We got that up in the de morning, and the wind backed to west. So we regained our NE zig course heading to Brittany. Last night the wind died almost completely and we went on engine again, as we passed the center of the depression. With the typical drizzel and cold breeze. Today we are on the north side of the depression. The wind builds up again. SW this time, which is favorable for our third zig course (NE). Still a few days to go for the entrance of The Channel.