Birthday At Sea

June 23. Log 32.20 N, lat 33.38 W

We huddled around the radio last night hoping Herb would deliver those words we all wanted to hear, "you can turn North East now". It didn't happen. We are beginning to have a dilemma. The front has yet to pass us, it's packing 30+ k winds and the furthering we go N the more wind it will have. At the same time if we go much further E we will end up beating to Horta or worse, tacking.

The three reefs have remained in. All morning and afternoon the sky has been clear and blue, no signs of convection anywhere. We all want to believe that the front has passed us during the night. King is not convinced but after much discussion, He eases Ostinato a little toward the North and lets out more of the jib to make the ride a bit more comfortable.

Again, tonight we pour over the weather faxes that arrive just before the "Herb Show". The damn low pressure system has barely moved. However the frontal line has eased to a more NE direction. The front has still not passed us! With our 3 days of reading weather faxes all aboard have become weather forecasters and we each strongly want to believe there is an opening there that will allow Ostinato to scoot up to Horta. But what will Herb say?

Propagation was poor tonight during Herb's reports with boats going up the US east coast and to and from Bermuda. The fear is losing him just as your boat is called. Ostinato continues being the one of the furtherest E so is usually one of the last up. This means we get to hear the other 5 boats that are sailing this same route give their updates and in return get new directions for the next 24hr. My heart begins to sink when I hear that only one has gone through the frontal line. All are told to continue E until that occurs and then turn N, still off their rhumb line. You can hear the disappointment in some of their voices as they say a disheartened "roger, roger" and sign off. What can this possibly mean for us? It's my birthday! Please Herb give us a break!

At last, Ostinato is called. Herb makes a quick noncommittal note that we have already begun to turn some to the N. We hold our breath....Herb will scold at times if you don't follow his recommendations, especially if you have put yourself at risk of high winds. He quickly advises that we should move to 31 E before we cross 34N. Once we move past that waypoint we should take the rhumb line into Horta. Yea! Wahoo! Big smiles all around the table. Attention quickly moves to determining the course and our projected arrival time.

As dinner was in its last stages of preparation, I headed to bed. A birthday card with a small box laid on my pillow waiting to be unwrapped. He hadn't forgotten after all. Cake and champagne will have to be saved for Horta.