Day 15: Of Squalls and Shooting Stars

by Doreen | Dec 4, 2023 | ARC Rallye 2023

The Night of December 3-4, 2023

Through the Night with the Engine

Due to the weather forecast, we had to expect squalls during the night. To be prepared for all eventualities, we decided to take down the Wingaker and sail under the engine through the night. This was not only for our comfort but primarily for our safety in case a storm hit us unexpectedly.

Peter chose to sleep in the salon. It was too noisy in the cabins due to the running engine to get restful sleep. Additionally, he wanted to be ready to respond quickly if a storm hit us.

Contrary to the forecast, the wind speed remained moderate. And the squalls that appeared on the radar decided to take a different direction. Good for us. It was relatively easy to navigate skillfully between the squalls.

A Look at the Stars: Fascinating Facts and Upcoming Astrological Events

That night, I had the chance to focus on the stars and planets again. The sky was clear, providing the perfect opportunity. Here are some fascinating facts about the night sky that I learned during our preparations for the voyage:

Did you know there are ten times more stars in the night sky than grains of sand in all the world’s deserts and beaches combined? Astronomers have calculated that about 5,000 stars are visible to the naked eye, but from the observable universe, about 1 septillion stars can be seen—that’s a 1 followed by 24 zeros!

But the romantic “twinkle, twinkle, little star” moments are actually an illusion. The twinkling of stars is technically called “stellar scintillation.” This is caused by atmospheric turbulence that moves air pockets in the Earth’s atmosphere, distorting the starlight. These air pockets act like lenses, bending the light in random directions, making the stars appear to twinkle. It’s less romantic than the song suggests.

Besides these facts, there are some astrological events worth watching. And we can even look forward to a few during our crossing:

Blue Moon: A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in a single calendar month. This happens about every 2 to 3 years. The last Blue Moon was in 2020. There won’t be one in 2023.

Twice in a Blue Moon: In rare cases, there are two Blue Moons in the same year. This last happened in 2016 and before that in 1961. The next occurrence will be in 2037.

Black Moon: A Black Moon is a month without a full moon. This only occurs in February and only every 19 years. When February has no full moon, the previous January or December and the following March or April have two full moons. The last Black Moon was in 2018, and the next one will be in 2037.

Leonid Meteor Shower (November 17, 2023): The Leonid Meteor Shower is an annual event in November, known for its fast and bright meteors called “Leonids.” The average rate is about 10-15 meteors per hour. In 2023, it occurred on November 17. The moon was about 23% illuminated, providing ideal conditions for viewing. Unfortunately, we missed this event this year.

Geminid Meteor Shower (December 13-14, 2023): The Geminid Meteor Shower is one of the year’s most spectacular events, occurring annually around December 13-14. The Geminids are known for their high rate of about 75 meteors per hour at their peak. This event is often called the “king of meteor showers” and offers spectacular shooting stars. This year, it coincides with the new moon, promising optimal viewing conditions. We won’t miss the Geminid Meteor Shower and hopefully can experience it shortly after our arrival in St. Lucia.

We’ll have to wait a few years for other events, but we can enjoy the daily view of planet configurations and constellations on the night sea sky.

Anticipation for St. Lucia

The day started with a refreshing shower on the swim platform. Water is a precious commodity on board, so we shower with seawater and then rinse off with freshwater. This way, we can enjoy the sea view while showering and start the day full of energy. Some of us even extended the ritual with a little pedicure session on the swim platform. With the warm temperatures and the boat’s rocking, it almost felt like being in a spa.

Shortly after, the gentle rocking was over. The weather changed noticeably. The waves grew larger. Sometimes it felt like we were riding the waves. These huge wave crests accompanied us all day. We reached a top speed of 11 knots and maintained a good average of 8 to 9 knots. It was both exciting and occasionally tense.

A look at the ARC chart revealed that if conditions remained stable, we would arrive in St. Lucia early Sunday evening. Ufffh… that means less than a week until we arrive. Excitement spread among everyone immediately. The past two weeks had been exciting and beautiful.

Living together on board works wonderfully as a family. But sometimes the monotony of sailing on the high seas can be tiring. The prospect of arriving soon lifted everyone’s spirits immediately.

Despite the more challenging conditions than in recent days, the sun came out occasionally, and we used the time to sunbathe for half an hour on the foredeck and upper deck. Anna was particularly determined to get a tan and enjoyed the warm sun rays.

Today, I made it my task to check and sort our fresh supplies again. After two weeks at sea, the balance is really pleasing. Only a few tomatoes and a mango showed signs of mold and had to be discarded immediately.

Our strategy of storing about one-third of our supplies of bell peppers, avocados, mangoes, and zucchini in the fridge really pays off. The first two-thirds, which I stored in airy baskets, remained fresh and have now been used up. The supplies in the fridge are still fresh and can now be consumed in our third week. Cabbage, potatoes, carrots, beets, apples, onions, and garlic, which I stored openly or in the fruit net, have also held up excellently. There is still plenty left, so we can cook with fresh vegetables for the last week of our passage. I’m grateful that this works so well, allowing us to prepare healthy and delicious meals even at sea.

The night promised to be a real challenge. A squall sequence was forecasted. So, we wanted to be well-prepared. This is important, especially at night when only one of us is at the helm. We expected wind speeds of up to 28 knots and sailing speeds of up to 10 knots. We all had great respect for that.

We discussed the expected weather conditions in detail and considered which sails to set. Finally, we decided to go through the night with the mainsail in the second reef and the foresail.

We prudently performed the sail change before dark. Peter explained all the steps and assigned each of us a task: Nicolas was to take down the Wingaker and later set the fog, Anna was to helm, Peter was responsible for the mainsail, and I handled the corresponding lines.

Before the maneuver, we secured everything on board and closed all the hatches, as it promised to be quite a clatter with 3-4 meter high waves. Well-prepared, Anna then steered us “into the wind.” It was indeed adventurous. The boat jumped up and down and danced on the waves. The maneuver took no longer than 15 minutes, but I was relieved when it was over.

Afterward, we reviewed all the safety rules to ensure we all knew how to behave during the night.

Our three most important rules are: No one leaves the area protected by the tarps, not even in emergencies. Life jackets are worn at all times, and no decisions are made alone—the captain is always to be awakened. It was more than clear that we as a family depended on each other to get through this safely.

With the announced storm fronts, we expected restless hours. Everyone felt a bit uneasy, but Peter, our captain, exuded confidence and a sense of adventure, assuring us that we were well-prepared to handle the night.

Culinary Delights Day 15