Trade Winds

Gust of Wind
Paul Anley
Sat 2 Dec 2017 23:35

EVENTUALLY INTO THE TRADES

After 13 days of this epic sail, we are eventually into the trade winds, 15-20 knots of easterly and cruising to St Lucia with 700 miles to go. Today we did our first 230-mile day.

The weather on this leg has managed to throw everything at us, from a 54 knot, 7m storm while heading north to being becalmed for 2 days with zero wind in the middle of the Atlantic between the Northern storms and trade winds further south. At last we have reached some steady, solid and reliable wind in the form of the trades.

In addition to chomping away at the miles to St. Lucia, the change in conditions has seen a notable lift in spirits after a few very slow, quiet days. There hasn’t been a single moment of quiet with every minute being filled with a joke or story, from Justin’s mysterious and timely back pain to the week-long debate surrounding Sam Studdard’’s fishing prowess.

Bruce is desperately trying to keep the crew disciplined. He is, however, fighting a losing battle as Justin unearths a hidden bottle of Vodka or the Spinnaker collapses followed shortly by a call of “CONCENTRATE!” The boat has settled into a good routine and we have had to institute 2 Happy Hours, a South African Happy Hour at midday and a St Lucian Happy Hour at Sundown in order to keep Captain Anley satisfied as his wine stocks plummet.

It’s common knowledge that most people may lose a kilo or two on an Atlantic Crossing, but this definitely isn’t the case on board Gust of Wind. We have eaten like kings, being proved once again as we sat around the dining table with a huge pot of Paella doing 10 Knts on a beeline to St. Lucia.

In all, there are at least 7 stoked sailors in the Atlantic who will look back on today as better-than-average in every aspect.

Signing Off,
Gust of Wind