End of Day 10 Beaufort NC to Antigua

These Blog entries are edited versions of the messages we sent back as we completed the passage. They were sent by radio using a laptop that controls a modem and the HF/SSB radio, using the SailMail system. We sent the messages daily to Charlotte and she then forwarded them on to a list of family members.

2359hrs (AST, GMT-4) 28 Nov 2019

Dear All,

Well the last 36 hours have been exactly what we needed.  We kept full sails flying overnight to make the most of the good wind and our 24 hour runs show how successful that was.  The midday to midday run of 181.3 nm was really good but, even better, from 10am to 10am we sailed 184.5 nautical miles, averaging 7.7 knots,  which is easily the highest mileage run through the water that we have ever done in a 24 hour period.  With all of those miles behind us we are now comfortably within motoring range of Antigua and the possibility of having to sit static over the next 2 days waiting for the wind has passed.

The downside is that the wind has dropped, as forecast, and after all of that lovely sailing we are motoring to make progress.  We started the engine at 1540hrs and, if the forecast is to be believed, we won't see enough wind to sail for about 3 days.  Hopefully by then we will have made landfall.

Love to all,

Reg and Nicky 

Passage statistics:

Position at midday 28 Nov: N21 13 W62 42

Position at midnight 28 Nov: N20 05 W62 28

Midday to midday distance: 181 nautical miles

Midnight to midnight distance: 157 nautical miles

Total miles covered:  1358 nautical miles

Approximate distance to go (direct line to English Harbour): 189 nautical miles

End of Day 10 - Beaufort North Carolina to Antigua