Since then it has rained heavely and the wind has been hard West – practically impossible for at ship and crew sailing towards the Orkney Islands.
But now the weather forecasts agree – there’s a shift in the weather because of a low pressure above Ireland. The low pressure is headed for Scandinavia, deep and filled with wind, but the challenge for the Sea Stallion is to reach the nothern parts of Scotland during. Before the low pressure there’s headwind, therefore the Sea Stallions is sailing south west to catch a good wind as early as possible. The wind in a low presurre is turning agains the clock and by taking advantage of this turn, the Sea Stallion can head north west in the middle of the North Sea and sail towards the northern parts of Scotland and Orkney.
”We are saving ourselves a lot of trouble”
We are sitting in the mess on the following ship ’Cable One,’ when skipper, his steersman and skipper on ’Cable One’ are making plans for the for the up-coming days of sailing across the North Sea:
”If you sail today (wednesday, red.), how much further south on the North Sea reached compared to sailin tomorrow?” Lars skipper on ’Cable One’ ask.
”I think we would save ourselves a lot of trouble by sailing tomorrow. We are headed for ’Ekkofisk’ ( an oil drilling field) and there is no reason for sailing all the way out there”, skipper Carsten answers.
”Iit all about using the sail. There’s no reason to sail to far south. The low pressure isn’t there before Saturday, giving you some good sailing wind. The less wet, the better”, Lars agrees. The two skippers points out the position of the Sea Stallion, if the ship sail out tis afternoon compared to tomorrow. And with a strong head wind, the difference is not that big,
A good wind this weekend
”Saturday the wind will turn south and then we have to be there to catch it,” Carsten says.
”You have to prepare for yourselves for at bit of rain from that low pressure,” Lars says.
The predictions from the meterologist are untill Saturday.
”That’s perfect. Then we will have a great tale wind And then there’s nothing we can’t handle,” Carstens says.
Boat builder and head of boat yard Søren comments:
”Try looking a the weather map again, lets see the development... it looks fine. 2o knots north west. If we can loosen the sheets and not torture the ship and get to wet ourselves. Friday the wind dicreases” Søren says, while everybody are lookin at the screen.
A great wether map
”But there’s a nother low pressure. mid day Friday it will be head wind. But oif we are down here, we can tacl north. Friday evening it’s 7-8 m/s and from there it gets better and better. What a great map.” Carsten says when the animation reaches the weather forecast forthis weekend – all the arrows showing the wind direction are pointing more and more east.
”An dit gets even better. The wind increases to 12 m/s. That’s perfect. Saturday will have tale wind. But we can’t ly here waiting for it to disappear by itself. Then we are in trouble, when tacking towards Kirkwall – then the wind will be head wind. This is were a helicopter from BBC is waiting for us”.
”How fast can you sail wit a half wind a 10 m/s?” Lars aks.
”F... fast! 6-7 knots in average,” Carsten and Søren answers.
Vibeke, the second steermans commentsden:
”But we can’t torture the ship. The most important thing is to keep and average speed”.
”And the low pressure will make you really wet,” Lars from ’Cable One’ says.
”If people are soaked we can saty close to the Scottish east coast and head for Wick for example. But when does it all stop?” Søren ask.
Straight to bed
”Wick? That were you next following ship is waiting for you – then you have to ships following you to Orkney”, Lars says.
”We sail tomorrow morning. Boat has to be ready at seven” Carsten concludes.
”Then there’s a good low pressure for you to take advantage off”, Lars comments.
”We have to tell the crew members to get a good night sleep.It is going ot be tough”.
”No film tonight!…” Carsten laughs.
”Straight to bed after supper,” Lars smiles.