17:56.59N  63:23.59W

 

Distance Run  127 nm

 

Monday 20 April 2015

 

There was no sign of any northerly winds for the next two weeks.  There were a couple of days of easterlies, which is a less than ideal direction, but soon followed by a week of south easterlies which would be disastrous, so we have opted for second best and decided to put up with the easterly.  This involves beating at about 45 degrees to the true wind and as we cannot go directly to our destination it increases our distance by between a half to two thirds.

 

The forecast strength is quite good and we set off in benign conditions at about 2.30pm.  We passed Vixen Point on Prickly Pear Island where we had had a nice drink ashore with the holiday makers:-

 

 

 

 

And past the superyacht with the helicopter on deck.  This time the covers were off, showing there really is an aircraft under there:-

 

 

 

We motor sailed at first with the mainsail up for stability.  The wind strength was good but the sea was choppier than expected given the recent moderate winds.  Later we killed the engine and sailed in a good wind but by night time the sea was simply horrible and we were pitching fore and aft terribly.  I couldn’t find any angle to the waves that would prevent slamming and unfortunately for the first time in over 15 years, and the first time ever on this boat , Lin was feeling seasick.  Sleep was very hard to come by with all the banging noise.  The wind strength was comfortable overnight but the sea state was ridiculous.

 

On our trip here we had tidal assistance and only sailed 69 nm to achieve a 77 nm passage in 15 hours.  The reverse was now true of course and the extra distance caused by tacking meant that together with the tide against us our 77 nm became 127nm and took 24 hours.  Much of the extra distance was to be expected of course but to add insult to injury the wind turned to the south east for the last few hours.  This put us on the wrong side of the shift and had increased the distance needed to sail when the end had been in sight.

 

I have never known a sea like it.  Not particularly rough and certainly not dangerous but the lumpy, short, chop in the sea made the passage thoroughly unpleasant and suffice to say that we arrived in St Martin very tired, beaten up and despondent. 

 

We anchored in Marigot Bay, had something to eat and went to sleep in a nice still bed.  After a swim and a shower later we felt much better and better still the following morning of course.