End of Day 5 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 (EST, GMT-5) 23 Nov 2019

Dear All,

Just before dawn on Day 5

BV kept sailing through the early hours of this morning with variable speeds of 4.5-7 knots, which is better than we had expected from the forecast.  My 4-8am watch was very civilised with slight seas, a tiny sliver of moon to pick out the horizon and, with just a handful of cumulus clouds, an almost complete view of the stars.  Not a bad vista for drinking a mug of tea under, especially as there were also several shooting stars.

The game now is to see if we are far enough out from the high to keep that steady southeasterly progression, or if we get too close to the centre and lose the wind again.

The morning check-in on the SSB radio had Innamorata 2 and Scoot down at N27deg30min, about 200nm further south than us, on their direct line towards St Martin.  A couple of days ago Zwailer dropped south from 33N to about our latitude and yesterday, like us, tracked essentially southeast.  At the check in she was just 38nm east of us, so we've caught them up a bit, probably because we spent several hours under power whereas I think they were being purist and just continued, very slowly, under sail.  Miles is due to depart Beaufort NC either after lunch Sunday 24 Nov or on Monday.  It all depends on the weather.  Grace has also made good progress, albeit in fitting their watermaker rather than in miles under the keel.  However, the work is, apparently, nearly finished and Helen and Dave will be looking for a weather window next week for heading offshore down to the Bahamas.

Though we didn't manage to make radio contact with them, we have used the SSB radio to email our friends Lars and Susanne on Sea Wind.  They are just about to arrive in Bermuda after a challenging sail from Newport with up to 60 knot winds.  After a few days in Bermuda they hope to sail on to St Martin so we might get to meet up with them again fairly soon this season.

The wind was up a bit and down a bit all night and into the morning  and so, with the wind light, as soon as the radio net was over, I took the opportunity to swim under BV to check whether or not there was anything wrapped around the prop shaft.  Thankfully, the answer was negative which was a big relief for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, I didn't have to spend any length of time in the water and underneath the boat - not a fun thing out in the open ocean, even if I was tied to BV.  Secondly, we have no concerns now about running the engine if the wind goes light again.  I can report though that the water in the +3km deep swimming pool out back is crystal clear and a beautiful deep blue colour.

Our dorado (also called a mahi-mahi or a dolphin fish)

Inevitably, with the fridge fully stocked and me in my wetsuit ready to go in the water, as I started to reel in the fishing line it went taut and we found that we had a good-sized dorado (also called a mahi-mahi or a dolphin fish) on the hook.  I managed to get it in surprisingly easily and dealt with it after my swim.  Tonight's dinner is fish and chips, even if it is Saturday not Friday!

A smaller specimen than the last dorado we caught, this one was about 85cm (2’6”) long.  Plenty big enough for a few meals

Lunchtime dorado with cous cous

The afternoon was our turn to be purist often making just 3 knots under sail.  However, by nightfall our speed had dropped to 2.5 knots so at 1720hrs we switched on the engine to maintain some sort of progress.  It's just as well that we had checked the prop this morning because we could start the engine after dark without any nagging doubts about something being caught around the it and causing damage.

Dinnertime fish and chips
(with homemade tartare sauce, of course)

Dinner was indeed fish and chips which provided a nice morale boost given the lack of wind.  But that was to change; by 2200hrs we were sailing again, close hauled with about 7 knots of wind, and we were able to sail directly towards our waypoint.  It's time to see if we can improve our 24hr miles run stats.

Love to all,

Reg and Nicky

Passage statistics:

Position at midday 23 Nov: N30 44 W6846

Position at midnight 23 Nov: N30 00 W67 46

Midday to midday distance: 136 nautical miles

Midnight to midnight distance: 137 nautical miles

Total miles covered:  638 nautical miles

Approximate distance to go (direct line): 843 nautical miles

End of Day 5 - Beaufort North Carolina to Antigua