The weather could be entitled as extraordinary. We entered an enormous high pressure system and read 1038 Mbar this morning on the barometer. As we send our weather report to the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute we found out that 1040 is the highest pressure that could be filled in on the report. Associating this high pressure with a cloudless sky appears to be a mistake. The time that the sun showed itself the last days cannot be expressed in hours. Anyway, there is no reason to complain because we are under canvas. Under weak breezes we tacked up the west cape of Bretagne and had the luck to be able to stay 5 Miles west of the Island Ushant.
Since early this morning we feel the ship heeling over portside sliding into the Bay of Biscay. To reach Cape Finisterre we have to make a maneuver under sail, unless the wind will veer radically. Assuming the wind not to be that favorable to us we keep the ship as close holed as possible. Arthur, our second officer and ‘yachtee’ among our crewmembers even attached ‘tell tales’ to out new mizzen staysail to achieve optimal close holed sailing……..another 30 sails to go, mate….

Richard Slootweg
Captain Stad Amsterdam