@ 02:16 GMT

Position: 36° 21.889 N x 55° 10.512 W

Speed: 4.2 kts

Course: 356° True

During the first part of the Atlantic Crossing Adventure we had conditions that were well suited to light downwind sailing. This allowed us all to get comfortable with the boat and to have a lot of fun, which included swimming when there was no wind. Over the past couple of days the wind direction has changed to permit favorable conditions for speed. Consequently we have been trimming sails to maximize power and increase our miles sailed. In every sailors mind there are magical milestones that we would like to achieve. This week has, without question, had several of them ticked off in the done column. Our daily distances started in the 120nm range (we didn’t want to advertise this small distance). When sailing monohulls I always shoot to exceed 160nm which corresponds to 6.66 knots of boat speed, certainly achievable in a small monohull with favorable winds. On Ingwe, a catamaran, we should be able to achieve more. Yesterday we reported to close friends that we had achieved 193nm (my personal best). Roy, from Sail For Epilepsy responded, you are on a Cat, you should do better and exceed 250nm lol! He had thrown down the gauntlet. Every two hours we make log book entries including distance sailed. This morning we calculated that we had set a new best for Ingwe of 238nm in 24 hours. (Roy, sorry we failed to get 250nm). That’s an average boat speed of 9.92knots. It was really quite exhilarating and as the winds freshened overnight we reefed the mainsail down to the second reef, as well as a partially reefed jib. It didn’t matter, as is often the case we maintained boat speed despite having less canvas to the wind.

The GRIB files (weather prediction files)  indicated that we would get our peak sustained winds of 30kts at 1am (GMT-4) and they were right on track. Winds subsided to 20kts thereafter. We were then waiting for them to head further east and to dissipate so that we could head back on an ENE track to the Azores. I took a nap and was woken to the sound of rushing water (outside of the boat). I came to the helm to chat with Greg and Rudy who were on watch. Winds were picking up again. Rudy and I as the most experienced offshore sailors, changed our watch schedule so that we rotated every two hours. At about 6am (GMT-4) winds were sustained at 35kts climbing to 40kts. Seas were rising and were on our beam. The direction of the wind didn’t allow us to head to our destination. We decided to use a lesson everybody learns in their first sailing class. A maneuver called “Hove To” in which one uses the mainsail and the jib in opposition to effectively stop the boat (as I write we are making 1kt over water) and point the bow towards the waves that were being built by the wind. 

Rudy and I manned the helm and controls (we have sailed together for over a decade and look at one another and know what the other is thinking) and we turned the bow through the wind. Initially the perceived wind speed increases as one makes progress into the wind but then when your bow passes through the wind, everything calms. As I write we sit drinking coffee, having a laugh and looking out at 12 foot seas. It might sound scary, in actuality its very relaxing and calming. We have taken control of the storm using our knowledge of sail trim, just as we did to reach the 238nm milestone.

I wish you could be here to witness the beauty of the ocean in a storm.