Picture: Another shot from a pre-departure briefing
Author: Toby

It's interesting how hyped up you can get in anticipation. I know that my excitement kept building as we proceeded through the pre-race work and briefings. And sailors "Talk." Everyone has a source and an opinion. Chris Parker, a paid weather router says, "Don't Go till Saturday." Other Captains said, "this is the minute we will get ahead of the front." There are more experts than the Weather Channel. And it all gets distorted as the information moves from boat to boat. I decided, let's go with the fleet.

During the Captain's Briefings, before what was presumed to be the race start, weather and general info was reviewed. This included the "most recent" Atlantic current files which emphasized the Gulf Stream. Info provided was clear. Here is the best entry point, mid point and exit point for the "Stream," which, I might add, they nailed!

Then there was a class on eddies. Eddies are circular currents that, if they are cold water eddies run one way. and if warm water run the other. We had plotted a path that would take us from the Gulf Stream to the quickest eddy south. WOW did we miss it. In fact, we missed them all. There was as much as 2.9 knots of current against us as we came through the first eddie. We were constantly faced with currents fighting us that were never on the original current chart. My guess, Tropical Storm Sean changed everything. We did have a very safe crossing of the Gulf Stream. For that I am thankful. Maximum, 1 knot taking us North. We got through fast. The dreaded waves caused by a strong current across a countering north east wind were negligible. And the fishing...It was great. Mahi-Mahi and one Tuna on (not in the boat). But we got better from the experience.

Thank you Andy Schell, Rick Palm and Steve Black for your hard work and candid information. You made crossing the dreaded Gulf Stream seem easy.