It is still bumpy in the early morning, as we beat into the cold post-frontal Northerly. There are waves of warm and cold air, as pockets of warm air seem trapped in the troughs between the warm Gulf Stream waves. There is still have heavy west swell running steeply, knocking us around a bit.

We seem to have picked up some kind of favorable eddy, with the current setting us to the northwest, towards New York. We had expected contrary currents in the Gulf Stream, and that we would try to cross it quickly. With this favorable eddy, it is alright to cross the stream obliquely, In fact, if we headed due north to cross at right angles, we might expect to find the opposite side of the eddy and an adverse current. This is good, because with the north wind, we cannot point high enough to cross the Gulf Stream at right angles anyway. This will keep us in the Gulf Stream longer.

At 0830, the jib sheet gets fouled again as Robin rolls up part of the jib in the stiff Norther.

At 1000, we are bouncing along on lumpy seas, with a strong current setting north -- the edge of the eddy? Skies to the north are clear; overhead is overcast grey. The wind is north at 15-20 knots.

Robin makes crepes for breakfast, including one flying-fish crepe -- a "fish in a blanket"

At 1045, the water temperature drops rapidly, from 72 degrees to 58 degrees in a matter of minutes. The water immediately grows calmer -- we are out of the Gulf Stream. Still, there remains a north setting current.

The seas calm greatly, and we now have nice smooth sailing directly towards New York, under sunny skies. But it is COLD all of a sudden.

I took an afernoon nap, and almost slept through the check-in with Southbound II and Herb Hilgenburg. Herb tells us to expect light winds on Friday and Saturday.

Before dinner Robin wonders aloud whether we will see any more dolphins on this trip, and, on cue, a school of dolphins appears. The wind has died to about 4 knots, and we are making about 3 to 4 knots, but we do not want to ruin the last quiet moments of sailing, so we do not start the engine yet.

Engine on at 1740, I leave the jib set and we motor-sail at around 6 knots.

I make a paella for perhaps our last cockpit dinner at sea, and a dolphin joins us, too. Beryl appears on deck in flannel pajamas and a blanket; Robin is bundled up in fleece and hat and gloves as we get used to the northern weather again.

We have calculated an arrival in New York on Friday night, at 6 knots, and will motor if we have to to get there . . .