Ship's Log 07/14/09 8:00PM

Even the lightest of North winds can make the gulf stream lumpy. I witnessed that today. It was only around 10kts out of the north but I finally found a little patch of the gulf stream flowing NE. That was enough to make the ride just bouncy enough that I cannot do anything in the cabin. Write emails, yes, and print out weather charts, but I wanted to finish cleaning the kitchen. Oh well, I was reading magazines and taking naps. Not a living sole on the horizon, one funny looking float marker with a radar reflector on top of it. Probably a fishing net.
Northern winds brought in some dry air. That means no thunderstorms, and no dew. The day was sunny, and wind was cold from the north. I actually had to wear long sweatshirt during the day! Its July? Also tonight we'll have clear skies and stars.
the forecast changed, what else is new. All I know is that I have another 100NM to get out of this crappy forecast zone(Hudson Canyon to Baltimore Canyon) where the forecast changes twice per day, and get into the "South of New England" zone which I hope will be more reliable. I am so close but so far away. I got 200NM to go. But with northern winds I'll be lucky if I get there in August.
I just started motoring as it helps heal the boat and to break up the lumpy seas. If nothing else, lumpy seas means I am in the gulf stream. Wind is supposed to shift to W and stay W-SW this evening. No signs of it yet. Wednesday and Wednesday night winds should be SW 10-15 and then 15-20kts. Means fast sailing and all I need is another 36 ours of that. But it also has to line up with the "South of New England" forecast. Its so complicated here in mid Atlantic and new England waters.
For every 3-4 forecast zones here, there is only one in the tropics. And the forecast in the tropics is wind E-SE 10-15kts or E 15-20kts. and its been like that ever since the beginning of time.
I have to try and cook something. One of the tuperware containers with prepared dinner has gone moldy. It was because the lid was broken. So I officially ate the last prepared meal. But fortunately, I have 6 more burgers, 6 sausages, lots of mahi, ground beef, and two pork chops. I think I'll make pork chops with mashed potatoes.
The alternator belt is holding up well after 1 hour. We'll see what happens with that.
Just checked again, N winds are officially dead. Now I am hoping that W or SW or something else picks up and flattens these seas.

Update:
forecast changed. There won't be any W-SW winds 10-15kts. Its now variable 5-10kts. Its just not enough to help heel the boat and cut through these lumpy seas. I did find the gulf stream. I am getting 1.5kts push and I am smack in the middle of this tiny patch of stream. Water temp is 75F, a noticeable increase from 72F earlier this morning. So the next opportunity to have winds is tomorrow morning. SW 10-15kts. Decision to make is do I run the engine the entire night, or do I just sit here and bounce in these lumpy seas and conserve gas? Ahhh decisions, decisions....
I just tried to shut the engine and see what happens. I am doing 2kts without the engine but its quite and a bit less lumpy then while motoring. I was doing 6kts under power.

But the sails are just luffing around and jerking the entire boat in every direction. Sundowner has a very tall rig, and the sail plan is large, those things tugging back and forth in these lumpy seas are not very fun. But oh well, I am gonna go with the quiet, as opposed to the sound of the engine. At least the skies are clear and there will not be any thunderstorms tonight.