The trades were kind and moved a few points further to the east for our passage NNE to the southern tip of Martinique. We were able to make sail and lay the point as we came out of the lee of St. Lucia. The wind has been blowing hard for weeks and the easterly swell has built up much larger than normal. Ten to twelve foot seas roll down toward us. Salt spray soars from the bows and drenches the boat. Alicia is not sure whether to sail to the wind, or to brace up for the bigger seas, then fall off into the troughs. She has a reasonable understanding of what’s required, but has not honed the focus needed to keep Django steady and fast on her course. I am like an expectant father, pacing the cockpit. My focus stays on the boat, how is she going; I know we will go a bit faster and sail a bit closer to the wind if more attention were paid.
After a bit of this, I offer to take over and she agrees, a bit stressed by my fussing. We fly along, 7 knots and more close on the wind. We don’t sail quite as high as the monohulls we pass on the way, but quite a lot faster, the result being we leave them contemplating the salt spray from our bows and the rooster tail from our sterns, and we arrive first.
It is about 23 miles across, not too far, but in these conditions, hard work all the same. A squall in mid passage brings a downpour of rain and wind blowing up to 25 knots. The rains comes as curtain, driven white against the sea by the squally wind. We are at the northern edge of the squall when it strikes, so not long in the weather. Immediately out of the squall, the wind dies out, leaving us floundering in the high seas. Engine on to drive us ever forward, then off again shortly as the wind picks up after a couple of miles. The sum of the squall wind and the ensuing calm average out to the prevailing gradient flow. We fetch Martinique in the afternoon and after a short motor to windward in the lee of the island, we arrive in Le Marin, both of us quite knackered and salty.
A good sail. Now we need some rain to wash down the boat.
After a bit of this, I offer to take over and she agrees, a bit stressed by my fussing. We fly along, 7 knots and more close on the wind. We don’t sail quite as high as the monohulls we pass on the way, but quite a lot faster, the result being we leave them contemplating the salt spray from our bows and the rooster tail from our sterns, and we arrive first.
It is about 23 miles across, not too far, but in these conditions, hard work all the same. A squall in mid passage brings a downpour of rain and wind blowing up to 25 knots. The rains comes as curtain, driven white against the sea by the squally wind. We are at the northern edge of the squall when it strikes, so not long in the weather. Immediately out of the squall, the wind dies out, leaving us floundering in the high seas. Engine on to drive us ever forward, then off again shortly as the wind picks up after a couple of miles. The sum of the squall wind and the ensuing calm average out to the prevailing gradient flow. We fetch Martinique in the afternoon and after a short motor to windward in the lee of the island, we arrive in Le Marin, both of us quite knackered and salty.
A good sail. Now we need some rain to wash down the boat.
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