We entered the Gulf Stream around 0830 this morning. If the wind holds we should be out of it by the end of the day.
To date winds have been lighter than anticipated, though the seas state still has some pretty good sized (8-12′) rollers every now and then. Last night we ended up motoring for much of the night but at 0600 this morning we started sailing again.
Watch last night was smooth, with Will grabbing the 2000-2300 (aka 8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m), Kathy taking 1100-0300 and me standing 0300-0700. The last was cold; hopefully that will be the last one. On entering the Gulf Stream, we learn the water has now climbed to almost eighty degrees, quite a change from the 50 degree water when we were leaving the Chesapeake.
It may be time to start removing layers soon, as I’m getting warm sitting here typing this up! Of course I’ve got about 5 layers up top and long-johns under my jeans. I’m hoping to never wear these things again once it starts really getting warm, but we’ve not headed all that far South as of yet; we are still North of Cape Hatteras, though we are over 125 miles East of the Cape.
Lots of sleeping going on now as we start to try and settle into the routine of living on board under passage. I don’t think anyone got a full night with the cold, the boat’s motion, the engine and, of course, watch standing.
We’ve been in communication with other rally boats – one of the more interesting aspects of doing the passage this time is that there are boats in sight most of the time. On some of the other long trips we’ve noted that you really don’t see a lot of boats. But since we are intentionally traveling with a pack, seeing other boats is assuring, knowing that there are boats within an hour away in case something does go wrong.
After we leave he Gulf Stream tonight we start heading more South. We need to head East anyway to make the BVI’s, and we’re covering a lot of that now. But our major course change is coming up – the one that points us right at our destination!
Until tomorrow…
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At 11/10/2012 19:38 (utc) our position was 35°41.74’N 072°45.41’W
