Days 6/7Grenada

The Travels of Running Tide
Mick Norman
Mon 13 May 2013 12:59
12:05.04N 62:51.11W
 
12/5/13  The hope was that we would get a lift from the current and or wind to get us in to Grenada but most day our course was a very persistent 180, that south and we wanted a could somewhat east of south about 140. As a consequence we were going to miss Grenada by 80 miles and have to tack against a current to finish. We needed some help really to make this process a little bearable.  Our prayers were answered or my watch between between 18 00 and 21 00. I had this theory that once we got into the shadow of Grenada we would a break from the current and possibly a back eddy. The bane of our lives when we were rowing way back in 2006. Our bearing crept up and up from our 180 to somewhere in the region of 130/140 and incredible 50/60 degrees. This didn’t mean could lay Grenada but has made our life a lot easier. Looking at our compass bearing knowing the magnetic deviation and leeway we worked that there was either no current and for the lower bearing a counter current.
 
13/5/13  Its 09 00 and we are still in the current shadow of Grenada but emerging from the southern tip and starting to feel the slight effects of the current. We propose to hold for a while longer and then tack back into the shadow. We are still 60 miles from our way point off the south west tip of Grenada but hopeful with fair wind and current we will be there tomorrow.
 
Norm quoting Wainwright ‘Time is to be spent not saved’ so we are doing our fair share of spending. Looking forward to a cold beer.
 
Monica let us down last night. There was a loud pinge as the setting pin sprung off, the weld had broken, this allows you to set the point of sailing. Monica is not much used without it. That’s terminal for the moment. Anyway not to be put off and taking a note from the works of Joshua Slocum we lashed the helm. Worked a treat. Good old Josh.