Underway from Gibraltar Wed Nov 26,08
iThis morning dawned breezy and cold with some dark cloudy patches.
During the morning we had to put on our immersion suits so we coulkd wax the zippers and check them for damage. we also tested the lights and inflation devices.
Then we hoisted the anchor and sailed out of Gibraltar Hrbour under Topsails, and T’gallants.
The weather has been deteriorating steadily all day but the wind is almost due West which is too good to pass up. The temperature ha also been dropping. Apparently there is a massive coldfront moving down the West coast of Europe bringing unusually cold wreather. When we went on watch at 4:00 pm this afternoon I added my longsleeve hoody under my fowl weather gear and boy did I need it.
We were chased out of the straights by a wicked looking squall line. The seas were steep and grey, almost like polished steel. On lookout ships appeared and disappeared in the rain squalls. Eventually the Sun came out and even though it was still rainy,windy and cold we were followed by a lovely double rainbow.
So we are nearly in the Atlantic. Mike (the first mate) says there is the possibility of a big SW gale in the next few days so we are going to head West and get ourselves some sea room.
Could be an interesting couple of days.
Thanks for reading.
KJ