Perfection is the term for the night sky last night. The full moon was closest to Earth for centuries and the light through the hatches about 0300 this morning was spectacular.

March 20, 2011
I always thought as a kid how exotic the term "Trade Winds" sounded. To me it conjured up dreams of tall ships, perhaps even pirate ships, under a full press on a clear day mid Atlantic or Pacific. The ocean swell of such period that the ship was not even rolling, just making way toward some island, perhaps even this island. The term is given to the prevailing east to west winds that blow between the Doldrums and the Horse Latitudes after the fronts stop coming through. The Doldrums exist certain times of the year spanning about 5 degrees (give or take) either side of the Equator. The Horse Latitudes exist north of 30 degrees to 35 degrees north and south of 30 to 35 degrees south. In the middle are the Trades. We are in the Trade Wind zone and we are starting to hear the term used in local forecasts. Sailors intentionally enter or avoid the Trades depending on which direction they wish to go. It is also said Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas. How's that for day dreaming? For centuries, the Trades have been the fast way to get west. Now, our departure in a few days to the west will not take advantage of the trades very much since we have such a short distance to go but imagine what a few extra knots of wind at our back would do if we were to cross big water? As it is, we will stay in the protected waters of the Northern Bahamas for a few more days then pick a time to cross the Stream. We have learned much about tides, winds and thin water harbors. We will be leaving this place, most likely on Tuesday, for the return. A few stops along the way are part of the end to Phase IV. We are looking forward to returning to the Bahamas and point south after we explore the Atlantic coast north of Charleston. Late summer, or perhaps before, we will sail south once again looking for another "Particular Harbor". For now, shore leave back in Texas sure appeals to us. Maybe we will be able to walk without weaving by the time we return to Why Knot. As Robert Earl Keene suggests, we can taste those greasy enchiladas, with lots of onions and a guacamole salad.