November 20, 2007 1200 UTC.
POSITION: 24 14.0N 017 58.4W
DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 269 (26 hours)
WIND: 10kt 235T
WEATHER: Slightly overcast, warm
NEWS:
After our quick stop to refuel we are back underway. Yesterday morning we topped up the fuel tanks with some extra fuel, stowed the lose items and got underway around 1100.
As we departed Santa Cruz and started motoring south the southwesterly breeze began to build. When the wind is blowing from the north or south in this area it is funnelled between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. If the wind field is 15 knots around the general area it can be as much as 25 knots between the islands due to the funnelling effect. In our case the breeze built to 28 knots before we arrived at the south end of Tenerife. As we left the south end of Tenerife astern the breeze began to ease off again, finally settling in at around 17knots for most of the night.
We will have to head a little further south before coming on to a more westerly course to push through the southwesterly wind. Later on this afternoon we should be in a position to do this.
Jim Duhamel