We are on our way
Caduceus
Martin and Elizabeth Bevan
Fri 10 Jan 2014 23:42
Date 1200 (EST) Thursday 9 January 2014
We left the marina at Emerald Bay, Great Exuma on Wednesday at 1030 local
time. The channel out was, to say the least, exciting but not dangerous
nevertheless I would not like to have had an engine failure as the sea was
breaking over the reefs on both sides.
Having cleared that there followed 14 very frustrating hours as we worked
our way east and then south east around Long Island Bahamas. Every time
that we altered course away from the wind, which should have allowed us to
sail, the wind appeared to follow us round on the nose. Eventually at 0200
this morning, Thursday, we passed Cape Verde at the south of Long Island and
were able to set a course for the Windward Passage between Cuba and Haiti
and start proper sailing. We have now had 12 hours of fast close reaching
in a very bouncy sea but hurrah we are doing it without diesel and hacking
along at 7-8 knots with sails well reefed down in 20 knots of wind from the
east.
We should pass through the Windward Passage just after midnight and be 40 nm
south west of Guantanamo Bay by dawn.