21:51.500N 86:06.000W Isla Mujeres to Cuba, halfway

If Knot Y Knot
Patricia Day
Tue 5 Feb 2013 18:22

Tuesday 5

Kodo, Nicole and Jean Marc, Canadians left with me at 1300, took an hour to motor up the inside, an hour to motor down the outside and an hour to motor away from the island.  Then we sailed, I could do over 5 knots N because of the current, but no East and it got worse.  On port tack the over 50E the current is against us.  I put my kitchen timer down and it slipped straight under the flap of the hood and disappeared.  I didn’t hear it hit anything or splash, but it was gone.  I had to get the phone out and set alarms every half hour, which works.  0200 Kodo were way off to the West and their topping lift had broken, so they were going to have to motor.  I motor sailed to try to gain some E and to keep up with them.  0545 we lost sight of each other and they stopped and waited half an hour for me to catch up, which was really good of them.  We have only made good about 45 miles, with another 90 to go.  It is too close to wind for the sails to help.  The heading is 150, to make 80 against the Gulf Stream.  0600 changed over fuel tanks, tank 1 has a gauge, tank 2 I can see and fill from indoors.  By 0800 I was wondering if we were ever going to make it. 1200 tank 1 is down to half in 6 hours, switched back to tank 2. Now making 2.3knots as the current is lessening for now.  My motor and autopilot did not sign up for this, but I cannot risk going off course to get the wind.  In 24 hours I should be about half way.

Am I having fun yet? Not particularly, but luckily the conditions are calm to motor in.