Days 5&6 were fairly non-eventful, but now the winds are gradually increasing as Rusalka heads further north-west, trying to stay out of the way of the brewing storm.
The reports from MetBob suggest that on Sunday and Monday (Days 7&8) Rusalka will encounter strong to gale force winds (up to 30, gusting 40kt), with a front passing on Monday. Alex’s strategy is to continue on their northwesterly course until it becomes too uncomfortable and then they will heave to (essentially stopping the boat) until the front passes. So if you see that they’ve stopped moving or are travelling slowly downwind (towards the southwest) over the next day or so, don’t worry! It means that they are hove to.
UPDATE: 31 March 11:30 AEDT:
Well, they got through a windy, wet, bumpy night! Yesterday afternoon (day 7) they put up the storm jib (2hr job on a wet foredeck), but soon realised that the boat didn't heave to very well with the storm jib so, just before dark Alex and Roisin took it down and reset the genoa, heavily reefed. Rusalka then settled into hove to position and stayed that way all through the night. The seas were rough overnight, with winds 25-35kts. This morning a front is passing over them, bringing heavy rain and a change in wind direction from NE to NW. Today the seas are expected to still be "agitated" with swells coming from both NE and NW, but both wind and waves should settle by tomorrow. For the moment Rusalka is still hove to, waiting for suitable conditions to continue. All aboard are well, if tired. Rusalka is in good shape.
More tomorrow...
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