48 hours later

 After leaving the coastline of Nova Scotia we decided to alter course to shelter in Plymouth for our third night. Due to bad weather we are going to go through the Cape Cod Canal as opposed to crossing the Nantucket Shoals in the middle of the night in rain, 30+ knots of wind and associated waves.  We will take the Cape Cod Canal, through Buzzard’s Bay and back into open ocean. Today we had a frontal system bringing gusts of 30+, rain and 2m swells. Conditions are set to become more favourable over the next few days. We averaged steady 8 knots today - although the seas were lumpy Paradigm sailed like a dream.

Today’s conditions 

On our first day we were hailed on the VHF radio by the Hailey and Hannah. “Would you like some fresh haddock for your dinner?”

An exchange took place mid ocean via the red bucket - freshly caught and prepared haddock for us and in return a Tupperware of Christine’s Everything Free cookies. Lightly sautéed fillets with fresh green peas and little potato and sweet potato roasties was on the menu.

Rick and his new friend

We received a visit from a flock of Greater Blacked Back Gulls hitching a ride. They stayed with us for a couple of hours.

Navigating the old school way

The weather deteriorated throughout the night with a WSW wind right on the nose. With the coming of the dawn the wind backed and we sailed under solent and reefed main trucking along beautifully.

We were luckily enough to see whales spouting, dolphins playing under our bow, more whales and dolphins plus Chris spotted a sun fish basking on the surface. We are also pretty sure we spied the fin of a bull shark just off our bow.

It’s 8.30pm, we are secure on the hook, dinner enjoyed in the cockpit, foul weather gear all drying in the warm engine room and we are all looking forward to an undisturbed night’s sleep!