The trade winds are blowing!. Most people have heard of the "trade winds" but very few probably think much about them. Here in the Caribbean they blow from the East primarily but sometimes NE or SE or ESE or ENE but generally have an Easterly component. Right now they are blowing out of the East at 20kts with occasional gusts higher and tonite forecast for higher. In fact higher each of the next three nights. They are diurnal higher at night lesser during the day but always blowing. This is how we remembered the Caribbean (from when we lived here in the lates 80's) but had forgotten from all the light air sailing on the Pacific side.
As long as you dont have to travel East these winds are a blessing. We will be traveling North (when we leave) through Guatemala, Belize, and Yucatan Mexico to Florida.
Even though we are protected by a reef from the big seas the harbor chop can cause a little inconvenience with our dinghy. We wear our waterproof bottoms to go into town or to Brooksy point so we are no to wet when we get there. The other thing prominent in the Caribbean on sailing vessels are the wind generators. You almost never see them in Mexico but here the majority of the vessels have added wind generators. My solar panels are very helpful during the day but it would be nice to generate power 24 hours per day.
The picture is passage weather. We are located on the map at a small island just north of the land mass at the lower left of the map. This weather map can be used to forecast weather, wind and waves out 7 days. Very useful for passage planning. Right now I use it to help people under way via SSB radio.
My back is getting better every day. Looking forward to the Playoff games on Sunday Have a nice weekend
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