This is the evening of day 7, and has been one of the most difficult days we have ever had on the sea. It started out quietly with very light winds this morning. I had my morning shave and cockpit bath while Elisabeth slept. At 0745, I tuned in a radio net in which other yachts report their positions and conditions, etc. Two boats to the north of us reported having really bad weather during the night. We didn't know it, but this weather was headed for us as well. It was a convergence zone moving south and east. Sometime in the morning, we went from not having enough wind to sail to having high winds on our nose. As the day wore on, these winds and seas built to a frenzy.

We made a sat phone call or three to our good friend Bob Hanelt who provides us with stellar weather reporting and analysis, and he let us know that we were on the north and west side of this convergence zone. He advised us to go west and that we would be out of it before morning. He also advised us that to the east, it was quite a bit worse. The problem with going west is that the wind was out of the northwest, thus requiring that we sail into the wind. When it was 30 knots, we felt 35 due to our forward speed. After a while, we had had enough, and we didn't want to break anything. So, in the afternoon, we chose to heave to. Instantly, things calmed down enough for us to rest.

We are fine. We didn't break anything. We are, however, very tired. It was a battle day. The conditions have improved, but we will stay hove-to for the night and a well earned rest. We tip our hats and offer heartfelt thanks to our friend Bob, without whom, we might still be stuck in that convergence zone.

As always our position is shown of the right side of the page - just click on the map.

We will continue to keep you posted.

Rod and Elisabeth, "Your Rock and Roll Argonauts"