Spirit's position at 1200 EDT: Thursday July 2nd.
37º 05' N x 077º 37'
COG 070ºT
SOG 14 knots
SW'ly breeze, Force 5 - moderate sea.
Barometer 1010 mb and steady.
Broad reach, under full sail.
Noon run: 224 NM as the crow flies.
484 NM from Charleston
404 NM to Finish line off Boston
A beautiful day's run, flying along under full canvas, taking advantage of a little help from the gulf stream. Caught a big Mahi Mahi - enough to feed the whole crew. Good progress towards the waypoint off Nantucket, and everyone excited with the race. All hands competed in watches in a relay for knowing the location and name of all the lines aboard ship
Then came the first of the waterspouts. Five in all, and at one stage three within two miles of the ship. We took evasive action whilst endeavouring to outrun the electrical storms behind them until that first icy blast heralding the microburst, or white squall.
Everyone on deck sprang to action to strike the main and furl the outer jib. All hands below busied themselves stowing loose gear and lashing benches, harnesses on, ready to come on deck if needed. Hatches were secured and watertight doors dogged closed. By the time the winds reached 30 knots we were striking the fore and the mizzen. By 45 knots we had all sail furled and were surging along at 8 knots under bare poles.
Then it got windy.
Six separate microbursts in all - Force 10 or 11 sustained, with gusts up to 76 knots, Intermingled with severe electrical storms, the 9th and last of which is now 12 miles astern. We are happy and safe and are once again thinking about racing after 10 hours of evading nature. Everyone handled themselves brilliantly and are rightly proud of their day.
Best to all