Trying for the USVI Again
26 December 2011 | Northwest of Martinique
Jeff
We weighed anchor this morning at about 0900. It took us awhile to get the sails adjusted as the wind was playing games with us and the seas were about three to five feet. So, we got tossed around a bit while we were trying to get acclimated. After we got settled in on our course under sail with the Monitor steering the wind dropped off from the 20 knots it had been blowing to about five. knots. We tried sailing for a bit in hopes that the wind would return. When it didn't after about 15 minutes we started the engine to make progress. After about 15 minutes of motor sailing the wind returned at about 15 knots on the beam. It's direction was just south of east which is not the east north east direction that was predicted. But since we were to the south west of Martinique we didn't know it the island was affecting the wind. Since that time we have been sailing up the west coast of Martinique and are now close to coming out from behind the island so we should get a better idea of the wind conditions that we will have tonight. It has been a pretty good day of sailing thus far even though it has been 100% overcast most of the time with the occasional rain squall. Fortunately the squall have not had really nasty wind increases with the rain. In any case we are doing well and making good progress north so that is also good. I'll try to report tomorrow afternoon at some point, stay tuned.