Memories of Transat
After 2200 miles and 14 days we are happy to have arrived in Antigua. After a "quiet" as they say in Cape Verde, the situation has deteriorated...
The first few days the sea is calm with beautiful sunset.
During 6 days we sail with the gennaker and one reef in the main sail, the wind is constant between 15 and 20 Nodes, our average speed is 7 Nodes. The Moon grows every night... But the sky becomes more and more threatening.
Then the grains shifts with the wind that grows between 35 and 40 Nodes! We take a second reef in the mainsail to not be overpowered for grain. We are also the Genoese who struggled to stay inflated with a tailwind.
During the grain must ensure that the driver keeps the course... and Philippe who takes buckets of water on their heads.
Then a big swell back made his appearance. Despite the "medium-sized" waves that are between 2,5 and 4 metres, Some reach the 5 to 6 metres! Impressive when we are in a depression and that these "mountains" arrive on us.
But generally everything goes smoothly... Tao is carried away by the wave and then leaves in a long surf, without losing his cap too much. We still set the autopilot on a quicker response to avoid the departures to the lof or gybes.
One of these waves to decided to surge just arriving on the skirt back... and she invited herself in our cockpit dumping hundreds of liters of water.
Every morning, for several days, a tropicbird visits us. It makes several turns around Tao, then once it seems to have spotted the movement of air, made several attempts landing at the top of the mast... without success. Is this the same bird following us? We are to 250 miles offshore when it makes us visit one last time. Can be a you it felt the Earth...
Between the grains, the sky is blue and we we carry around a little. But the next grain is never far away.
Wednesday 21 December - Antigua
The last day of navigation we adjust the sails and our speed to not happen at night. The Sun so just his appearance when we affalons the sails and embouquons the passes to enter English Harbour Bay.
We find a place quiet just behind the reefs by entering. Good performance with sandy bottom 3 water meters... Perfect! But why no other boat put the anchor? They are all tight in the center of the Bay with their fenders in position.
We are back in civilization. But the place is very pleasant and well laid out to accommodate the many super-yacht which make stopover.
The old buildings of Nelson's Dockyard are well restored and everything is "perfect" up to synthetic grass... Almost as good as Disneyland!
For our first ride on the ground we walk past a stall of fruit and vegetables... We throw for a pineapple and three Grapefruits... all for only 10 EUR!!! and we who thought we were in the land of the pineapple and tropical fruits! Maybe... but it is especially the country where tourists are being exploited.
Bravo for this crossing doesn't seem - it not been easy.
All our wishes for 2017 and that the weather is conducive to the realization of all your projects.
We finally created a blog and it is allowed to link
I also appreciate alas in mm not a month of very large scratches I appointment Saturday morning at the Apple store
Wonderful to hear all is well and ship shape with you both. Happy New Year! Best wishes and greetings from Los Angeles.
I don't know if I suck at computers but I never had no reply to my messages. It's not bad I hope you are well, but I don't know too where you are. Charter in Greece than it seems. Are you coming back in French Polynesia ? Good Eve to you two
Christian
Thank you for these beautiful photos ! Happy new year 2017 you two and kisses of Quebec !