We are now bound to the South point of Spitzbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago. Having left Troms� Thursday the 24th of July in the afternoon, we motored North trough the fjords in calm and overcast weather until Torsv�g, where we had an appointment with Audun, our norwegian friend who knows everything about the sea around Svalbard, having fished there since he was a young man. Very nice harbour and very convenient for a trip like ours, with a floating pontoon full of fishing boats, but with a side completely empty for us to moor.

We used the night and part of the following day to repair the alternator that was charging at a super high voltage. Following a suggestion from Audun and using a spare alternator not suitable for replacement. Let's hope that the super voltage didn't damage our equipment. We left the harbor in the evening with a fresh west wind and full sails.

Nights are still clear and will be even more proceeding towards north, because of the midnight sun. Weather is overcast and with some showers. Cold. We proceed course 350� to reach the continental shelf off the west side of Bj�rn�ya, where we should meet a northwards current. Slowly our course deviates eastwards because the wind veers and later decreases to a point where we are forced to lower our yankee and switch on the motor.

At present we are some 60 miles SW of Bjornoya and still motoring. Our damned autopilot has left us for good: how much trouble we got from the machine! Most of the crew was seasick, but now four of us have fully recovered, leaving only Boris in his cot. We have started seeing whales and dolphins albeit for few seconds, not enough to identify them. Up to now only our old friends the fulmars were with us all the time. We sail in poor visibility, sometimes a true fog. Nobody in sight, ever. Weather forecast looks good for the next day.

See you next from Spitzbergen