Day 12 - On 11/28 we got up at 05:30 to start the coffee and prepare for departure at sunrise. Anchor was up at 06:30 and we called Bermuda Radio for clearance to leave. Unfortunately, we were told to hold our position in order to let a cruise liner come through the cut. After about one hour, we were given clearance to proceed out of the harbor. We had great sailing all day; 20-25 knots with gusts to 30, out of the SW eventually lightening to 10-15 knots. Seas were 5-10 initially but also calmed to 3-4 ft… basically, champagne sailing at an averaging of 8.5 knots! For dinner, Joe cooked up Chicken Paprika, a Hungarian specialty made with onions, peppers, chicken and an entire bottle of paprika!!
Day 13 - Sailing most of the day, except a few hours when the wind dropped out. Just missed a big fish for dinner. Settled for five alarm chili!
Day 14 - Still sailing. We got a new weather router who said we could “slow down if we wanted to”… we were well ahead of the storms he was routing us around. We spent the prior evening dodging rain squalls and rolling the jib in and out when it starting flogging in the doldrums between squalls, but generally cruising along at an average of 7.5 knots. Lost another lure trying to fish that day but eventually the ‘fish on’ fire drill led to a nice mahi that Andrew cooked up for dinner.
Day 15 - Woke up to a sunny, warm breezy day. I tried my hand at a Joe special breakfast of leftovers cooked up with eggs in a frittata and after breakfast afterwards we dug the spinnaker out of the forepeak. The wind kept clocking and we kept falling off so much that by the time we got it up, we were headed to Cuba! After 15-20 minutes, it seemed the sail was working well so Andrew and I went down for a nap. Not much later, we heard the crew saying “that’s 15, 16, 17 knots… it’s going higher!” This was our cue to pop up and douse. It was probably gusting 20 by the time we got the chute down, which is on the edge for that sail. Just as Andrew returned to his nap, his phone pinged. It was our friend (and former boat owner, Scott, who follows us via Tracker when we are on voyage) with a text that said “You had better slow down, you’re gonna break something! You must have the spinnaker out!!”. Later that day, we slowed down enough to catch another mahi which Christian filleted, having made a study of Andrew’s technique.
Day 16 - Crew got our brand new staysail out and working well. Around 08:30, we had a fish on and Andrew and Christian brought in an 18-20 inch King Mackeral. Sounds like ceviche and fish sandwiches for dinner! Sailed all day and all night, averaging 6-7.5 knots in 12-18 of breeze.
Day 17 - Chute is up again at 08:40 and we have 185 miles to go to Antigua. Cooking along at 7.5 knots (max 9) when ‘POW’, the chute was in the water! With all hands on deck, we recovered the shrimped sail and gear to discover that the halyard had parted about 1 foot from the head. Must be something chaffing at the top of the mast. Guess we have our first boat project for when we arrive.
Day 18 - Motored sailed all night. At 06:00, I rushed out of the companion way to save Christian from getting thrown over board by a giant flounder that he was trying to reel in. Fortunately, it was just a dream and all was well but it inspired him to try for a fishing trifecta: mahi, mackeral and tuna. One hour later, he reeled in a small tuna, just right for sushi rolls. Joe made one final breakfast special and we cleaned up for our arrival in Antigua.
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