At Sea
09 November 2014 | 26 27.8'N:65 00.0'W, 65 WEST!
Bob
N 26.28; W 65.00 Hedonism Outbound 46 November 9, 2014 Wind 180 @ 25-30 kts Well, here we are about 480 NM from the BVIs and we are heading East vs. the 190 degree heading for direct. The �"way it is supposed to work�" is that you head to 65 degrees west, pick up the easterly Trade Winds and sail straight in. Problem is the wind is from about due south. We were heading direct to the BVIs last evening but the south wind filled in and we sailed all night on an easterly course with 25 to 30 knots winds. The conditions have not changed yet today (noon) except that we are able to sail more South East. Our current Course over the Ground (COG) is 145 degrees. This new course combined with the forecast winds for the next few days leave me to thinking that it may be late Thursday or even Friday before we get there. We are lucky as the majority of the boats are behind us. Some of the Outbounds motor sailed through the night to get more south but we decided to just sail. (we are a sailboat after all) We have lots of fuel but are still trouble shooting our fuel problem on the one tank but I am confident that we will be able to use that fuel. We ran the fuel polishing system all night and when we check late this morning, the fuel was clean. We think we have an obstruction in the line between the tank and the selector valve which is giving us grief. Once the seas let up (they are about 10 feet at the moment) I will get to work. Regardless, we have enough fuel on the one tank alone to motor for 2 or even 3 days if needed. Pretty hot in the boat as we are having to keep all the window and vents closed with the high sea state. Water temperature is 28 C. Shorts are the order of the day! All is well but I am looking forward to an ice cold Rum Punch when we arrive!