L'Eau Commotion Westabout

3:00pm Sunday 11th February 2018 ( UTC-5 ) With the expectation of the wind backing to the WNW and increasing to around the 35 knot mark I changed tack mid morning to Starboard which has the more intact weather rigging and reduced sail to a 3/4 furled jib. This may have been a little over cautious but again I feel it might be better to keep above the 60th parallel - well above given the chance. Just now I reduced sail to the bare minimum disengaged the WindPilot and lashed the helm. The interesting thing is that I am still making 3 knots on the same course and it is quite comfortable in winds reckoned around the 30 knot mark. There is the possibility of an assisting Current of a half knot but even so I feel we are still making a little to windward. When I say lashed the wheel I have engaged the rim with a length of shock cord which I feel might take take out some of the stress of imposed alternating forces. It feels just that little bit warmer with outside forecast at 7C and inside reading 10C and with plenty of bla nkets and a hotty I am really quite comfortable . I like to occasionally fry up some cooked rice in a little olive oil. Just lately I have had to scoop out chunks from the 3l tin with the wrong end of a teaspoon - another reason to be heading North.