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COURSE/SPEED:

Since departing Lunenburg yesterday morning at about 0530 ADT (0830 UTC), we continue to motor along.  Up until now, the wind was nearly calm, but recently it increased a little from the west-northwest.  While I am concerned about using fuel this early on in our crossing, we do not have the luxury of time to wait for the coming breezes promised by both the Canadian and the American weather services.  In fact, we have no time left at all for making Copenhagen at the beginning of June.  So, we have pushed with our engines while we await the arrival of the favorable winds, which should be coming our way sometime between today and tomorrow.

Our time in Lunenburg was well spent, even if it was time we could ill afford by sitting in that fair harbor, protected from strong northeasterly winds brought to us by the low that chased us up the American Southeast Coast.  During our stay, we got lots of ship details sorted out and maintained.  We also received our replacement antenna for the Sat-C and things are working normally with it now.  We also were able mingle with our shipmate friends from the PICTON CASTLE as well BLUENOSE II.  Both vessels make Lunenburg their home and as a result were instrumental in making it easy for PRIDE II's crew to get things done in short order.  But the best part was the time spent being with friends and talking about all manner of things.

PICTON CASTLE is getting ready to leave for her fourth round-the-world cruise with paying guests that will be her crew.  Her efforts at getting ready almost dwarf the efforts we made getting PRIDE II ready for her voyage to Europe.  Imagine making a three-mast, square-rigger with 50 persons ready for a 13 month voyage around the world from a winterized condition!  Their mission is not a simple sail around the world mission either.  They have a cargo hold which they fill with things for the friends they visit along the way.  In fact, Pitcairn Island is slated to get an ATV four wheel drive that was delivered to the ship while we were there.

Curiously, PRIDE II has been able to visit with PICTON CASTLE on at least three occasions when PICTON was either on the eve of departure or only just arrived home.  I cannot think of another vessel that has done that, except for BLUENOSE II, and this is her home.  Of course there are lots of traditional vessels that pass through Lunenburg, each of which could be paying their respects to that venerable world circling vessel.  But on or very near the occasion of actual arrival/departure?
 

BLUENOSE II has been Canada's tallship ambassador for years.  She is the pride of the Canadian Maritimes and was built in Lunenburg.  They sail a more domestic route these days, but will be making a visit to the States this summer.  They are still putting her back together after a winter of being stored safely in Lunenburg.

Our host for our stay in Lunenburg was the Fishery Museum.  The staff there was most considerate with PRIDE II, and her staff very helpful with shipments both coming and going, as well as communications with Canadian Customs and other local knowledge.

Altogether the assistance provided willingly by these three organizations was instrumental in making PRIDE II's stay safe, comfortable, and logistically easy to get things accomplished efficiently in preparation of the second try to get across to Europe.

This second try to get to Europe is a very important one.  There is an agreement with Denmark for PRIDE II to participate in a tallship event scheduled to start June 2.  The amount of time wasted hiding from the last low has frittered away all of the available "extra" time that was imbedded in the schedule.  So we are now on our way to see if we can honor that commitment. The weather this year has me puzzled.  There is nothing about it that has been familiar to me despite my four previous east bound crossings in the last twenty years.  I cannot tell if my decision to go north and east from Maryland last week was a good decision as far as getting across the Atlantic is concerned.  There is no question we would have experienced some serious weather down south off Cape Hatteras had we gone that way.  But presuming we did not have anything occur beyond suffering through an uncomfortable time, we would have been able to sail east after the low instead of hiding in Lunenburg.  But I do not know if we would be further east than we are now. Probably yes.

Meanwhile, we took the prudent course and stayed away from the low.  But it caught up with us and forced us to take shelter.  Since I am not sure we would not have also been forced to waste some time had we sailed south and encountered the low near Cape Hatteras by heaving-to and waiting for it to pass by, it is hard to judge how far ahead we might be had we gone south.  But one thing is for sure-we have not had to deal with any hard and contrary weather.  So we do not have much wear and tear accumulated.  Instead we have had extra time to make ourselves and the ship ever more ready for the crossing.

We have been motoring for more than a day now.  The wind is up a little from behind and it has enabled me to stop one engine and proceed with the other.  This conserves fuel while still keeping the pace needed to make our commitment. Soon we are to feel the force of a coming gale of wind from the west and northwest.  When that takes effect, we will be able to stop all engines and sail as fast as or faster than we are moving now.  With any luck, we will be able to hold onto the favorable wind for a number of days and eat up the miles more quickly while not consuming fuel.  We may need the fuel later after this coming wind pattern dissipates.

Cheers,
Captain Miles