So far our trip has been about as predicted weather wise. The winds, mostly on our rear quarter, have tended to be steady and in the 20-25 Knot range. With the Northern swells which we experienced the first three days (except our detour south of Puerto Rico) now moving to Eastern swells and the winds slightly moderating, we are experiencing a much more pleasant ride. Also, last night’s rain helped flatten the seas. Add some sleep, and clearing skies, and the good mood of the crew has turned even better. They can tell you in their own words later how good they really were.
Our Easter celebration was clearly dampened by the rough conditions. I somewhat expected it and never really put the wine in the fridge. We may need to hold the wine for Fort Lauderdale. Comocean also took a serious bath, cleaning much of the salt off the deck. On Monday, the boys arose to these flattened and improving conditions and each joined Comocean with a cleansing shower. Seth has predicted continuously diminished winds and improving conditions for the balance of this week…unfortunately that may bring on some motoring by late in the week. We are, after all, a sailboat!
Our progress toward the Greater Exumas (Georgetown), where we let Ron Theis off for his flight home, looks to be progressing very well. We are at noon today about two days off. That allows us to enter Georgetown about one day ahead of schedule so we will probably spend a nice day and evening at the Emerald Bay Marina on Little Exuma. A departure early the next afternoon is also necessary to ensure we make our way through the Highbourne and Nassau passes with sunlight (the only way we will go through, I might add). We will pass the Turks and Caicos this evening, however a nearly full moon, with these currently brilliant skies, may give us a glimpse of these very low islands.
Fishing has been a little disappointing. Perhaps it’s the 8000 foot deep water. We see plenty of flying fish which I occasionally clear off the decks. THEY STINK. Having just read two books, Unbroken and Life of PI, where flying fish, raw, were a mainstay, I have an even greater appreciation of the ability of humans to survive at sea. We will eat anything when hungry.
We have moved dinner to lunch time, so I will now prepare our super gourmet lunch. It’s not Stouffers however…but Gallant Gourmet. This must be a major brand in Tortola as the only Stouffers they carried was Lasagna. I would add at this point that we are on a meat diet. For whatever reason, all three Tortola supermarkets had NO chicken breasts. Hard to believe when you see Roosters in every lawn.