The Night of December 7-8, 2023
The Downside of a Lull
The forecast for the night was promising. It was supposed to stay calm. Nonetheless, we took in the Wingaker and sailed into the night with the mainsail in the third reef for maximum flexibility.
However, this decision had its drawbacks. The wind had died down considerably, and we were only making slow progress at about 4 knots. Two boats were nearby, and it was no surprise that they overtook us. Over the radio, we learned that they had turned on their engines to move faster. That was not an option for us. Not yet. But at around 5 AM, we decided to follow their example and start our engines too.
Despite the engine noise, I slept soundly like a baby after my watch at 6 AM. The exhaustion of the past few days overtook me.
The night passed quietly without any unexpected squalls. The rest of the crew reported a relaxed night as well. It seemed Neptune had calmed down and granted us a well-deserved break. For that, I was grateful.
Neptune is Kind to Us
Today is our last full day of sailing on the high seas. Only about 150 miles separate us from our destination. If all goes well, we will have solid ground under our feet by early Saturday afternoon. It’s amazing how quickly time has passed and what an adventure this journey has been for us.
The mood on board was noticeably better today. Everyone had a restful night’s sleep and felt refreshed. The wind picked up right at the start of the day, and it was definitely the right decision to raise the Wingaker. With a steady wind speed averaging 18-20 knots, we sailed all day at 8-9 knots. In such conditions, sailing is fun – long, roaring Atlantic waves, bright sunshine, few clouds in the sky, and a stiff breeze.
In the afternoon, I enjoyed some quiet moments on the foredeck in the warm sun. The others found the wind too strong, but I love being out there! The view of the endless sea and the sound of the waves make it easy to let my thoughts wander – simply wonderful. I was accompanied by a school of flying fish gracefully leaping out of the water.
Before nightfall, we prudently took in the Wingaker, even though it meant sacrificing speed. Safety remains our priority. Even though it’s tempting, as one or two boats in our category are hot on our heels, we don’t let ourselves be tempted into “racing mode” and stick with the safe option.
Finally, it was time to adjust the clocks one last time and synchronize with the time zone of our destination.
We spent the evening playing a few rounds of “Phase 10.” Only Nicolas retired early to be rested for his night watch.
In a few hours, we will reach our destination, and we hope Neptune remains kind to us. Maybe we will even be lucky enough to see dolphins one last time.
In any case, the anticipation is growing by the minute. The exhaustion of the long journey fades, replaced by the excitement of reaching our goal, giving us one last big motivational boost to reach it with full energy.
We look forward to these final miles and the arrival in St. Lucia!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog this morning in the morning in Hong Kong and as you sleep in Washington. I hope there are more blog entries about your time in St. Lucia, your time in the Caribbean and sail to the North East USA.
I send all of you my very best wishes.