Weather forecast looks promising. It predicts a weak eastern wind, which will increase in strength during the morning and last until tuesday, where it will turn to nortwest and increase to a strong breeze.
00.15, log 88,7, no wind, clear sky. We row out of Egersund in no wind to be free of the shore for the eastern wind.
02.19, log 93,6, wind: E-4 m/s, clear sky. Sail up, swell one metre due to the many days of western wind.
06.00, log 96,1, wind: weak from north, a little clouds. Very little wind. We drift a lot and there is a heavy wearing on the rig, because we roll a lot in the old swell.
07.49, log 97,4, wind: E-1, more cloudy. We receive another weather report from DMI Maritime Service (Danish Meterological Institute) saying that over night a new pressure has formed, destroying our plans. The wind will die during the day and then increase from W and SW, later turning NW 12-14 m/s. (strong breeze) possible even a gale. Meaning a hard wind coming right against us.... As it is a relatively "bad-tempered" pressure, likely turning worse, we are recommended by DMI to seek out of the area to W or E.
I decide that it is irresponsible to continue, when a gale might be coming.
Possible alternatives:
A: As they would probably have done in the Viking age, when a gale was expected: Turn around and once more wait for a good wind. Advantages: We can continue the test sail across the North Sea. Disadvantages: This will most likely mean that the time schedule (Dublin August 14th) is eroded to such a degree, that we would have to take a tow through The Caledonian Canal and thereby "loose" all of North-West Scotland.
B: We take a tow westward for the Orkney Islands. Advantages: We will keep up with the time schedule and in this way still have the possibility of completing the test sail via North-West Scotland and the Hebrides.
Decision: We take down the sail and take a tow for the Orkneys.
10.11, log 116, wind: NNØ-5 m/sec. (gentle breeze), cloudy. We are being towed, a depressed mood on board.
15.07, log 158, wind Ø-6, cloudy. After several tightenings of the rudder withy since the rudder strap broke, the rudder withy now breaks in the relatively great strain on the rudder, when on a tow. After salvaging the rudder we decide to try and tow without the rudder which works fine. Because the swell has increased a bit and we yaw a lot, speed is reduced a little.
22.11, log 218, wind: E8, cloudy: Control is getting difficult and we set the rudder back in place, with a new withy. Swell decreasing.