Position: 2030 LT, 29°48’ S, 015°25’ E
Date:Tuesday May 4, 2010

working northward

The ship’s chronometer is still synchronous with the Dutch local time. This way we could commemorate the casualties of war at the same time as they did at home. The nationalities of the Stad Amsterdam crew vary, but all come from countries that are in peace. We request a few minutes of silence to appreciate the fact that peace is not self-evident and to realize that lives were lost to reach this goal.
After all, the continent alongside our vessel is the living proof of that.
 
According to the pilot charts the prevailing winds should come from the South East this time of year.
These pilot charts reflect sea state, ice areas, currents and also prevailing winds averaged over the past years.
Currently it is everything but average since the wind is northwesterly and there should be only a slight chance for that. There is a ridge of high atmospheric pressure from St. Helena to the border of Namibia and South Africa. South of this belt the wind is northwesterly and only north of the belt we can expect the southeasterly trade wind that we require to enjoy for a few weeks at a stretch.
 
Alternating sailing, steaming and motor sailing we work our way up north in order to meet the fair winds since there is no time for sailing nonchalantly under this ever-changing wind.
We are expected to arrive in Valencia half of June, period.
 
Richard Slootweg
Captain Clipper Stad Amsterdam