It was a day with changing weather. During the day watch (04h00-08h00) the haze limited visibility to a mere mile. The fog changed into a drizzle with hardly any wind. With the passage of a weather system during the afternoon watch the wind suddenly veered and increased, clearing the fog in the process. We could set sail because of this freshening breeze. But right after setting sail the wind dropped  again. The engine was started, but only a little later the wind picked up, just after the sails were stowed. The running rigging still freshly coiled on the pinrails. But the first dogwatch could hoist our sails once again. With the first watch on duty (while writing this) it is Murphey’s Law that we should expect the wind to abate any time now. The weather gods kept our seafarers busy, but the record for ‘most miles under sail’ will not be broken today.

Richard Slootweg
Captain Clipper Stad Amsterdam